Synaffix B.V. (“Synaffix”), a Lonza company (SWX: LONN) focused on commercialising its clinical-stage platform technology for the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with best-in-class therapeutic index, and Sidewinder Therapeutics, a precision ADC therapeutics company with a pipeline of bispecific antibodies with enhanced tumour-cell specificity and internalisation, today announced that they have entered into a multi-target licensing agreement to develop first-in-class bispecific ADC therapeutics to treat solid tumour indications.
Through the agreement, Sidewinder gains access to Lonza’s clinically validated, site-specific ADC technology platform, including GlycoConnect® antibody conjugation technology, HydraSpace® polar spacer technology, and a toxSYN® linker-payload. Under the terms of the agreement, Lonza is eligible to receive upfront, clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, plus royalties on net sales of resulting products. Lonza is responsible for manufacturing components related to its proprietary technologies, and Sidewinder is responsible for the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialisation of the ADCs.
Peter van de Sande, Head of Synaffix at Lonza, commented: “This collaboration brings together two cutting-edge platforms to enhance the therapeutic index of bispecific ADCs by minimising impact on healthy tissue. We are confident that our technologies will help Sidewinder’s pipeline reach its full potential in maximising tumour targeting, hence delivering new life-saving therapies for the benefit of patients with cancer.”
Eric Murphy, PhD, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sidewinder Therapeutics, said: “The ADC field has reached an exciting moment, fuelled by multiple technology breakthroughs that enable the next generation of bispecific ADC innovation. Sidewinder’s bispecific antibody approach targeting tumour-specific receptor complexes, combined with Synaffix’s clinically validated site-specific linker-payload platform, creates an ideal synergy with the potential to greatly impact patient benefit. This collaboration advances our mission to reshape the cancer treatment landscape by improving tolerability for bispecific ADCs.”
