Janssen and its affiliates will get a non-exclusive global license to use Biocytogen’s RenLite platform, and its core intellectual property, to discover, research, develop, manufacture, and commercialise fully human antibody therapeutics
Janssen Biotech licenses RenLite platform. (Credit: Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay)
China-based Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals and Janssen Biotech, a business unit of Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary Janssen, have entered into a non-exclusive license agreement.
Under the terms of the license agreement, Janssen and its affiliates will get a non-exclusive global license to use Biocytogen’s RenLite platform, and its core intellectual property.
They can discover, research, develop, manufacture, and commercialise fully human antibody therapeutics for an unlimited number of drug targets and indications.
RenLite mice are a part of Biocytogen’s RenMice family and can generate fully human antibody candidates with enhanced specificity, affinity, diversity and druggability.
The antibody candidates feature a common light chain to help assemble bispecific and multi-specific antibodies, reducing the mismatch rate and increasing the success rate.
The bispecific and multispecific antibodies are said to have a traditional antibody structure and ideal physiochemical properties and support downstream CMC development.
Biocytogen founder, chairman and CEO Yuelei Shen said: “We are pleased to partner with Janssen to accelerate the discovery of new antibody-based drugs for patients.”
RenMice are genetically modified mice that generate fully human antibodies and include RenMab, RenLite, and RenNano mouse platforms, and their sub-strains.
The company developed the RenMice platform using its size-unlimited, precise chromosome engineering technology (SUPCE).
RenMice are said to generate a robust immune response and produce fully human antibodies with great diversity, specificity, affinity and druggability.
Earlier this year, Biocytogen signed an antibody collaboration, assignment, and exclusive license agreement with Hansoh Pharmaceutical.
Hansoh Pharma is focused on developing treatments for major diseases including oncology, infectious diseases, CNS disorders, metabolic diseases and autoimmune diseases.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hansoh Pharma will obtain a global license to manufacture and market Biocytogen’s select fully human antibody molecules.
Biocytogen will receive an upfront payment and will receive tens of millions of Chinese yuan in development and commercial milestones payments, in addition to royalties on net sales.