GenScript Biologics, a biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has entered into an agreement with ABL Bio Inc., a South Korean biotech company dedicated to therapeutics for immuno-oncology and neurodegenerative diseases. The parties have reached a partnership for two bispecific antibody programs.
 
According to the license agreement, GenScript will grant a sublicense to ABL Bio to use Ab (single-domain antibody), mAb (monoclonal antibody) targeting tumor antigens, and its Single-Domain Antibody fused to Monoclonal Ab (SMAB) Platform to develop several bispecific antibody molecules. ABL Bio will appoint GenScript as the exclusive supplier of CDMO services for IND-enabling studies and clinical material manufacturing so as to accelerate the development of the bispecific antibody under the licensing agreement. GenScript will consistently provide support and services for the programs. GenScript will receive an upfront with milestone payments, and royalty. The parties will make full use of their own advantages and resources to further expand ABL Bio’s bispecific antibody development pipelines and strengthen ABL Bio’s global leading position in cancer research.
 
“We are glad to cooperate with GenScript. GenScript is growing fast in recent years and has facilitated several companies to make achievements in antibody drug research,” said Sang Hoon Lee, chief executive officer, ABL Bio. “We expect the outstanding druggability and streamlined production processes of GenScript’s SMAB platform to accelerate the development of novel immunotherapy and the launch of new drugs. This partnership will further expand our bispecific antibody development pipelines, and help us ascend to a leader in therapeutics for immuno-oncology and neurodegenerative diseases.”
 
Brian Min, chief executive officer, GenScript Biologics, said, “We are excited about this collaboration with ABL Bio, an experienced company in the bispecific antibody field, which manifests that GenScript’s biologics R&D services have been increasingly recognized by global well-known enterprises. GenScript has extensive experience and powerful teams in biologics R&D. We would like to cooperate with more well-positioned enterprises like ABL Bio, utilize our own powerful R&D advantages, and accelerate the development of novel antibody drugs.”