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Abzena PLC

20 January 2017

Abzena plc

Abzena signs new ThioBridge(TM) licence agreement

Cambridge, UK, 20 January 2017 - Abzena plc (AIM: ABZA, 'Abzena' or the 'Group'), the life sciences group providing services and technologies to enable the development and manufacture of biopharmaceutical products, has signed a licensing agreement with a San Diego-based biopharmaceutical company for Abzena's novel site-specific ThioBridge(TM) antibody drug conjugate (ADC) linker technology.

ThioBridge(TM) links antibodies and other proteins to drugs. The technology platform is unique in its ability to maintain the stability of the antibody and a consistent Drug-to-Antibody Ratio (DAR), which provides a more homogeneous product.

The agreement covers the use of ThioBridge(TM) in up to 10 ADCs across a wide range of indications. Abzena has also entered a master services agreement, which enables multiple programmes of work to be undertaken over an extended period, relating to the Group's chemistry services.

The value of the agreement to Abzena has the potential to reach over $300 million, comprising licence fees and milestone payments. In addition, Abzena would also receive royalties on sales of approved products that incorporate the ThioBridge(TM) technology developed by its partner.

Dr John Burt, CEO of Abzena, commented:

"Abzena and the US biopharmaceutical company has enjoyed an ongoing collaborative research programme to evaluate ThioBridge(TM) up until now. The collaboration has allowed both parties to build a strong working relationship and to demonstrate the value of the ThioBridge(TM) technology in creating novel ADCs.

"Signing this extensive licence agreement for ThioBridge(TM) is further validation of our proprietary ADC technology and expertise. We look forward to continuing to work together with our partner for the development of novel ThioBridge(TM) ADCs."

Enquiries:

 
   Abzena plc 
    John Burt, Chief Executive 
    Officer Julian Smith, Chief 
    Financial Officer                  +44 1223 903498 
   Numis (Nominated Adviser and 
    Broker) 
    Clare Terlouw / James Black        +44 20 7260 
    / Paul Gillam                       1000 
    N+1 Singer (Joint Broker)          +44 20 7496 
     Aubrey Powell / Liz Yong           3000 
   Instinctif Partners                 +44 20 7457 
    Melanie Toyne Sewell / Rozi         2020 
    Morris                              abzena@instinctif.com 
 

Notes to Editors

About Abzena

Abzena (AIM: ABZA) provides proprietary technologies and complementary services to enable the development and manufacture of biopharmaceutical products, a growing area that requires specialist knowledge and expertise. The Group has a global customer base which includes the majority of the top 20 biopharmaceutical companies as well as large and small biotech companies and academic groups.

The term "Abzena inside" is used by Abzena to describe products that have been created using its proprietary technologies and are being developed by its partners, and include Composite Human Antibodies(TM) and ThioBridge(TM) Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs). Abzena has the potential to earn future licence fees, milestone payments and/or royalties on "Abzena inside" products.

Abzena offers the following services and technologies across its principal sites in Cambridge (UK), San Diego, California (USA) and Bristol, Pennsyl

vania (USA).

-- Immunogenicity assessment, protein engineering to create humanized antibodies and deimmunised therapeutic proteins, and cell line development for manufacture.

-- Contract process development and manufacture of biopharmaceuticals, including monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, vaccines, and gene therapy and cell therapy products, for preclinical and clinical studies.

-- Proprietary site-specific conjugation technologies for antibody drug conjugate development and solutions for optimizing the therapeutic properties of biopharmaceuticals.

-- Contract chemistry and bioconjugation business focused on ADCs and is establishing the capability to manufacture ADCs to GMP standards.

For more information, please see www.abzena.com

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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January 20, 2017 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)