Catalent Pharma Solutions has entered into a collaboration with Sanofi-Aventis R&D to implement Catalent’s SMARTag technology in the development of next generation Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs). Catalent will develop site-specifically modified antibody conjugates using Sanofi’s antibodies, enabling Sanofi to evaluate site selective payload conjugation in order to enhance ADC pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety.
 
The collaboration will involve teams at Sanofi and Catalent’s facility in Emeryville, CA, (formerly headquarters to Redwood Bioscience). In October 2014, Catalent purchased the remaining stake in Redwood following the successful achievement of in vivo and in vitro proof of concept milestones, and strong interest in the SMARTag technology.
 
“We are pleased to enter this agreement with Sanofi as we jointly work toward the goal of creating better drugs to meet patient needs,” said Barry Littlejohns, Catalent’s president of Advanced Delivery Technologies. “Through in vivo toxicology studies, we have demonstrated that ADCs generated using Catalent’s SMARTag platform have a better toxicity profile than a conventional ADC, while efficacy studies also point to an improved therapeutic index. We look forward to partnering with Sanofi to support the development of their next generation of ADC products.”