Teneobio, Selexis move to three license deals for multi-specific oncology antibody candidates

GENEVA & NEWARK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Selexis SA and Teneobio, Inc. announced today that they have signed three commercial license agreements (CLAs) for the development of Teneobio’s Human Heavy-Chain Antibodies (UniAbs™), a new class of multi-specific biologics, for the treatment of multiple myeloma, lymphoma and prostate cancer. The CLAs expand the companies’ previously established relationship, including a service agreement signed between Teneobio and Selexis in December 2018.

Through each new CLA, Selexis will provide Teneobio with access to high performance research cell banks (RCBs) developed using the Selexis SUREtechnology Platform™, with each expressing a unique UniAb product candidate.

“Today, new generations of biologically engineered antibody therapies are reaching the clinic with Selexis technologies that are specifically engineered to address the challenges of achieving high expression levels for and quality thresholds of bi- and multi-specific antibodies. Teneobio’s multi-specific UniAbs represent an exciting opportunity to leverage our capabilities,” said Yemi Onakunle, PhD, MBA, Selexis senior vice president, licensing and business development. “We’re pleased that the SUREtechnology Platform has positively impacted the trajectory of Teneobio’s pipeline and we look forward to working with their team to bring these exciting new oncology biologics to the clinic.”

Bi- and multi-specific antibodies represent one of the fastest-growing classes of molecules offering new therapeutic perspectives. A bi/multi-specific antibody is a recombinant, engineered protein that can simultaneously bind to two or more different types of antigens, often on two or more different types of cells. For cancer therapies, one-half of a bispecific recognizes an antigen on an immune cell, typically a T-cell, and the other half recognizes an antigen on the tumor. By binding both antigens simultaneously, a bispecific brings T-cells in close proximity to tumor cells where they can kill them.

“Since we began working with Selexis two years ago, we’ve seen firsthand the benefits of its cell line expression technologies – high-yield, speed, stability, flexibility and applicability for use with our differentiated, multi-specific platform – all of which are essential for bringing our innovative UniAbs to patients,” said Omid Vafa, PhD, MBA, chief business officer at Teneobio, Inc. “We look forward to continuing our important work together.”

Selexis’ modular SUREtechnology Platform facilitates the rapid, stable, and cost-effective production of virtually any recombinant protein and provides seamless integration of the biologics development continuum, spanning discovery to commercialization.