Seagen and Sanofi Announce Exclusive Collaboration to Co-Develop and Commercialize Multiple Novel Antibody-Drug Conjugates Targeting Up to Three Oncology Indications

On March 16, 2022, Seagen and Sanofi announced an exclusive collaboration agreement to design, develop, and commercialize antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for up to three cancer targets. This collaboration will combine Sanofi's proprietary monoclonal antibody technology with Seagen's proprietary ADC technology. ADCs are engineered antibodies that deliver potent anti-cancer drugs to tumor cells expressing specific proteins.

ADC consists of three components: a monoclonal antibody that targets specific antigens on the surface of tumor cells, a cytotoxic drug capable of killing tumor cells, and a linker that connects the cytotoxic drug to the antibody. The targets of ADCs are mostly widely and highly expressed in tumors but have low or no expression in healthy tissues and can bind to antibodies with high affinity. In addition to being able to bind with high affinity to antigens on the surface of tumor cells, the antibody component of an ADC must also have a long half-life and be internalized by tumor cells via endocytosis. After the ADC binds to the antigen expressed on the surface of tumor cells, it is internalized into the cell through the endocytic process, releasing the cytotoxic drug, thereby inducing tumor cell death.

Under the terms of the collaboration, Seagen and Sanofi will jointly fund global development activities and equally share any future profits. Additionally, Sanofi will make an undisclosed payment to Seagen for each of the three selected targets. The first target under the collaboration has already been identified.

References:

[1] Seagen and Sanofi Announce Collaboration to Develop and Commercialize Multiple Novel Antibody-Drug Conjugates. Retrieved March 16, 2022, from https://investor.seagen.com/press-releases/news-details/2022/Seagen-and-Sanofi-Announce-Collaboration-to-Develop-and-Commercialize-Multiple-Novel-Antibody-Drug-Conjugates/default.aspx

(Original text has been abridged)

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