Numab Therapeutics AG has announced that Intarcia Therapeutics Inc. has executed its option to in-license ND016, being developed for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.
 
Numab discovered ND016 on behalf of Intarcia under a previous research and option agreement. Under the present exclusive license agreement, Intarcia receives worldwide rights to develop and commercialize ND016 in exchange for license payments of up to CHF 70 million and up to double digit tiered royalties on net sales.

ND016 is a next generation tri-specific antibody fragment being developed for the treatment of autoimmune disorders. It simultaneously blocks the two pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-17A, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, each with outstanding potency. 

Similar to Numab’s lead immuno-oncology product ND021, ND016 is composed of three highly stable antibody variable domains, that are based on Numab’s fully human lambda cap technology. The resulting “variable domain only” multi-specific molecules reveal predictably favorable CMC properties and are amenable to high yield manufacturing applying platform capture chromatography.