Synaffix B.V., a biotechnology company focused on commercializing its clinical-stage platform technology for the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with best-in-class therapeutic index, expanded its license agreement with MacroGenics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer.

The expansion comes just a year after the original Feb. 2022 deal, increasing the total potential consideration by up to $2.2 billion, plus tiered low to high single-digit royalties on potential net sales of any resulting products.

MacroGenics currently has the option to pursue up to seven ADC programs under the expanded deal, which includes three programs from the original collaboration.

Under the original licensing agreement, MacroGenics gained access to Synaffix’s clinical stage GlycoConnect antibody conjugation technology, HydraSpace polar spacer technology, as well as select toxSYN linker-payloads (SYNtecan E, SYNeamicin D and SYNeamicin G), each designed to enable ADCs with best-in-class efficacy and tolerability.

These may be combined with MacroGenics’ proprietary antibody and bispecific DART platform technologies to generate next-generation ADCs, according to the company. 

Anthony DeBoer, vice president of business development at Synaffix, said: “The expansion of our agreement with MacroGenics is a significant milestone for Synaffix that further underscores the growing momentum behind our proprietary ADC technology. There are now 13 companies that have publicly disclosed the development of more than 20 ADCs that were built using our technology, with 5 programs that have commenced clinical development to date.”

DeBoer added: “We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the talented team at MacroGenics in order to deliver novel therapeutic candidates for patients in need.”

Ezio Bonvini, chief scientific officer of MacroGenics, said: “MacroGenics continues to be excited about the promise of Synaffix’s novel drug-linker technology that can help advance multiple potential first and best-in-class ADCs for the treatment of cancer.”