South-Korean biotech Y-Biologics and French mid-pharma Pierre Fabre enter into a worldwide exclusive license agreement in the highly innovative field of immuno-oncology
7 July 2021
Daejeon (South Korea), Castres (France), July 6th, 2021 – The South Korean biotech company Y-Biologics and the French pharmaceutical group Pierre Fabre have entered into a license agreement granting worldwide exclusive rights to Pierre Fabre to develop and commercialize a family of human antibodies generated through the phage display human antibody Ymax®-ABL library owned by Y-Biologics.
These antibodies have been functionally validated by the Pierre Fabre R&D teams for their specific properties on a pivotal immuno-oncology target acting on the tumoral microenvironment. Pierre Fabre intends to select a new therapeutic candidate in immuno-oncology for further developments.
This licensing agreement results from the strong and now proven complementarity between the two companies who have been collaborating since 2018. The final objective pursued by Y-Biologics and Pierre Fabre is to provide patients with innovative drugs to target refractory or relapsing cancer, taking advantage of the immune infiltrate to inhibit the growth of tumor cells.
This new milestone reached by the two companies reveals the effectiveness of the scientific means put in place by Y-Biologics, associated with the high expertise of Pierre Fabre in oncology.
We are very pleased to sign our first license agreement with Pierre Fabre. The collaboration between Y-Biologics and Pierre Fabre which is being conducted based on mutual trust, is expected to further advance the development of innovative immuno-oncology therapeutics targeting the tumor microenvironment
Since the beginning of our partnership, the collaboration with Y-Biologics has been very efficient and fruitful.
Their library has allowed us to identify a family of human antibodies against a promising target defined by our researchers at our dedicated Center of Immunology. This new exciting license agreement will allow us to further support the development of this therapy for the benefit of patients.
About Y-Biologics
Founded in 2007, Y-Biologics is a biotech company focusing on the discovery and development of novel antibody therapeutics based on its human antibody library “Ymax®-ABL” & bispecific antibody platform technology “ALiCE” (Antibody Like Cell Engager).
Based on Ymax®-ABL, Y-Biologics currently has developed more than 20 antibody candidates in various modalities. With a diversity of 1011, Ymax®-ABL has highly competitive quality and quantity leading to higher singularity and probability of findings from the proprietary library.
Following early work in discovery, the novel bispecific platform technology ALiCE, allows effective redirection of T cells onto tumor cells and thereby specifically kill the tumor cells giving very potent and long-lasting efficacy in the treatment of cancer patients. ALiCE has overcome the major drawbacks of currently available technologies such as excessive toxicity and low developability. Therefore, it has strong potential to further address those unmet needs in fields of immuno-oncology.
While focused on research initially, Y-Biologics recently started conducting joint development and investment through strategic alliances and providing various collaboration opportunities for global partnering.
For more information : http://ybiologics.com/eng/main/
About Pierre Fabre
Pierre Fabre is the 2nd largest dermo-cosmetics laboratory in the world, the 2nd largest private French pharmaceutical group and the market leader in France for products sold over the counter in pharmacies. Its portfolio ranges across several medical franchises and international brands, including Pierre Fabre Oncology, Pierre Fabre Dermatology, Eau Thermale Avène, Klorane, Ducray, René Furterer, A-Derma, Naturactive and Pierre Fabre Oral Care.
In 2020, Pierre Fabre generated €2.3 billion in revenues, 65% of which came from international sales.
Established in the South-West area of France since its creation, and manufacturing over 95% of its products in France, the Group employs some 10,000 people worldwide. Its products are distributed in about 130 countries.
Pierre Fabre is 86%-owned by the Pierre Fabre Foundation, a government-recognised public-interest foundation, and secondarily by its own employees through an international employee stock ownership plan.
In 2020, Ecocert Environment assessed the Group’s corporate social and environmental responsibility approach in accordance with the ISO 26000 sustainable development standard for the 2nd consecutive year and confirmed its “Excellence” level.
For further information, please visit the Pierre Fabre website at www.pierre-fabre.com
@PierreFabre.
Contacts:
Y Biologics
Dong-Ock Chang
+82-42-862-9906/+82-10-3904-5658
Pierre Fabre
Anne Kerveillant, Communication Manager
+33 1 49 10 81 60 / +33 (0)6 20 88 54 57
anne.kerveillant@pierre-fabre.com