ProBioGen will apply its GlymaxX platform together with cell-line and process-development expertise.

ProBioGen and Inhibrx inked a multiprogram agreement focused on combining Inhibrx’ therapeutic antibodies with ProBioGen’s GymaxX® ADCC (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity) enhancement technology. The collaboration initially covers development services for a number of antibodies with enhanced ADCC potency, plus cell-line and process development for other recombinant therapeutic proteins.

“We were searching for one company with proven cell-line development, process, and cell line-based ADCC enhancement technologies,” comments Mark Lappe, Inhibrx CEO. “ProBioGen’s time-tested expertise and innovative culture have created what we consider to be the perfect combination of technologies for deriving the most value and competitive edge for our therapeutic antibody and biologic programs.”

Inhibrx is applying antibody technologies including its mouse antibody-based VAST-mAb™ (validated ablation of self-tolerance) platform and fully human antibody-display platform, in combination with antibody optimization and evolution approaches to develop humanized and fully human therapeutic antibodies. The firm’s in-house programs are focused on cancer, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases.

ProBioGen is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) and technology provider specialized in cell-line engineering, process development (upstream- and downstream process), and GMP manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals. The firm’s GlymaxX technology for boosting the ADCC activity of antibodies involves the glycol-engineering of antibody-producing cell lines (including existing antibody producers) to generate antibodies with minimal fucose content. The firm says the resulting modification of the glycostructure of IgG1 antibodies enhances their binding to NK cells and thus the ADCC response. Officially launched about a year ago, the GlymaxX technology has already been outlicensed to firms including Boehringer Ingelheim, which negotiated a nonexclusive license to the platform in August. 

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