Novelty Nobility Expands Manufacturing Pact With AGC Biologics in Japan

Novelty Nobility is expanding a manufacturing agreement with AGC Biologics to advance a bispecific antibody drug candidate in Japan.

The candidate will progress through process development and good manufacturing practice (GMP) manufacturing at AGC Biologics’ facility in Chiba, Japan. AGC Biologics defines itself as a global pharmaceutical CDMO. Meanwhile, Novelty Nobility, based in South Korea, is a clinical stage biotechnology company.

The agreement continues a partnership begun in May 2025. In the first leg of that pact, cell line development was completed in Copenhagen, Denmark. The program is now on track for tech transfer to the Chiba site.

Novelty Nobility Drug Candidate

Novelty Nobility’s first in class bispecific antibody drug candidate, NN4101, is intended to treat neovascular retinal diseases. The company says it connects a fully human monoclonal antibody with a vascular endothelial growth factor trap.

Advancing this candidate will leverage AGC Biologics’ integrated global facility network. AGC has recently grown its footprint in Japan with a new, state-of-the-art facility in Yokohama. This site uses the latest single-use bioreactor technology in order to offer large-scale GMP manufacturing.

AGC Lends Expertise

Tadashi Murano, President of the AGC Life Science Company, said the partnership with Novelty Nobility reflects trust and confidence.

“Our mammalian expression teams are adept at handling complex proteins,” Murano said. “We are a world leader in applying flexible, single-use bioreactor technology. We are proud to support Novelty Nobility as they advance this innovative candidate toward the clinic.”

“AGC Biologics [is] an ideal manufacturing partner for advancing our most complex programs,” said Novelty Nobility CEO Sang Gyu Park. “Their seamless global network … gives us the confidence to move NN4101 forward with speed and precision. We believe this bispecific antibody has potential to offer a truly differentiated treatment option for patients with neovascular retinal diseases.”