ProBioGen AG, a service and technology provider for complex antibodies and glycoproteins, achieved an undisclosed milestone payment from Merus N.V. based on Merus’ grant of an exclusive license to Betta Pharmaceuticals to develop and commercialize in China Merus’ MCLA-129, Biclonics bispecific antibody for the potential treatment of cancer. The drug uses ProBioGen’s GlymaxX antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)-enhancing technology for greater cell-killing potential.

Merus’ use of the GlymaxX ADCC enhancement technology in MCLA-129 is the result of an agreement between ProBioGen and Merus from 2016. Merus obtained non-exclusive rights to use the GlymaxX technology for its Bioclonics pipeline of bispecific antibodies designed to treat various forms of cancer to enhance their ADCC activity. MCLA-129 is the third commercial GlymaxX license activated by Merus after MCLA128 anti-Her2/Her3 and MCLA-158 anti-EGFRxLGR5 bispecific antibodies.

GlymaxX is a stable modification, applicable to any producer cell, leading it to produce antibodies without fucose in the sugar chain. Such GlymaxX-modified, afucosylated antibodies recruit and activate immune effector cells much more effectively, with higher tumor cell killing activity and potentially require lower doses.

ProBioGen offers access to GlymaxX royalty-free as part of cell line development service projects or as standalone technology licenses.