Abzena, a bioconjugate and complex biologics CDMO, has entered a partnership with ProteoNic Biosciences BV to license their protein expression technology, 2G UNic. This state-of-the-art vector technology is designed to significantly improve the production of high-yielding CHO cell lines for Abzena’s customers.
 
Under the agreement, Abzena gains worldwide, non-exclusive commercial rights for the application of ProteoNic’s 2G UNic vector technology in the development of high-yielding CHO cell lines. Financial terms were not disclosed.
 
By applying the 2G UNic vector technology to their existing CHO platform, Abzena aims to increase product development efficiency and capacity as well as reduce the cost of goods for customers in early-stage development.
 
The 2G UNic technology uses the combined effect of novel genetic elements to exert a positive effect on recombinant protein production levels and boosts the performance of other expression-enhancing technologies.  This technology is also designed to increase production levels of difficult-to-produce complex proteins, including bispecifics and fusion proteins as well as levels of products already in the multiple g/L range.
 
Matt Stober, CEO of Abzena said, “By partnering with ProteoNic, we further enhance our existing offering by providing customers with a premium solution that increases the production levels for even the most challenging and complex proteins.  We will continue to actively increase our cell line toolkit to provide more integrated solutions that help improve and streamline our customers’ development programs.”
 
Frank Pieper, CEO of ProteoNic said, “We are pleased that we can contribute to achieving the best results for Abzena and its customers. In this arrangement, Abzena will play an active role in the distribution of our premium technology to product developers.”