LegoChem secures licensing agreement with Elthera AG to develop anti-drug conjugate therapy

[Courtesy of LegoChem Biosciences]

SEOUL -- LegoChem Biosciences (LCB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company in South Korea, has signed a license agreement with Elthera AG, a Switzerland-based biotechnology company, to adopt utilize a monoclonal antibody capable of attacking proteins that appear in various types of cancers such as pancreatic and ovarian cancer. Using the antibody, the South Korean company will also develop and commercialize antibody-drug conjugate technology.

An antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) is a drug attached to an antibody. Because ADCs are intended to kill only cancer cells and spare healthy cells, they are regarded as a crucial targeted therapy to treat cancer patients.

"We are pleased to enter this agreement with Elthera as we continue to expand our toolbox to maximize the value of our ADC platform," LegoChem Biosciences CEO Kim Yong-zu said after signing a license agreement with Elthera AG. The company said clinical trials will be carried out on the antibody. Details regarding royalty has not been disclosed.

"This agreement is the result of a fruitful collaboration with LegoChemBio, demonstrating the outstanding quality and therapeutic potential of our antibody," Elthera CEO Anne Schmidt said in a statement on February 13. Schmidt said he hopes treatments for solid tumors will be created by combining Elthera AG's technology with LCB's platform. Solid tumors refer to abnormal masses of cancer cells.

Kim Joo-heon jhkim123@ajunews.com

LegoChem secures licensing agreement with Elthera AG to develop anti-drug conjugate therapy

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