Debiopharm will strengthen its portfolio of antibody-drug conjugates in oncology through a multi-product agreement involving SunRock´s antibody portfolio, combined with the Multilink™ and AbYlink™ technologies.

Debiopharm, a Swiss private biopharmaceutical company aiming to set the future standard for cancer and infectious disease treatment, announced today an exclusive option and licensing agreement with SunRock Biopharma, Galician company supported by the Xunta de Galicia through Xesgalicia and a partner of Bioga, focuses on developing antibodies targeting highly invasive tumors with significant clinical needs.

The agreement grants Debiopharm licensing options to further develop SunRock’s antibodies by integrating Debiopharm’s innovative conjugation technologies, Multilink™ and AbYlink™, to create new antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Novel ADCs will be developed to target specific tumor antigens for the treatment of oncological diseases with unmet clinical needs, including tumor types expressing HER2/HER3.

ADCs are emerging as a promising therapy in the fight against cancer due to their ability to selectively target and destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. This innovative therapy combines the precision of monoclonal antibodies with the potent cytotoxic effects of small molecule drugs, resulting in a powerful synergy. The specificity of antibodies allows ADCs to recognize and bind to specific tumor antigens on the surface of cancer cells, ensuring that the cytotoxic molecule reaches its intended target directly. This approach not only enhances therapeutic efficacy but also reduces systemic toxicity and side effects commonly associated with traditional cancer treatments.

“Our partnership with SunRock has the potential to create highly innovative ADCs with the potential to address cancer in a new way and ultimately improve the lives of these patients,” commented Bertrand Ducrey, CEO of Debiopharm. “At a time when few new treatments seem promising for effectively defeating cancer, the potential of this collaboration is sparking scientific curiosity by combining biology and chemistry.”

Advances in conjugation technology have improved the stability of ADCs in circulation, reducing premature drug release and increasing treatment specificity and efficacy. Debiopharm’s unique Multilink™ technology can be used to create significantly more effective and better-tolerated ADCs by enabling the conjugation of multiple cytotoxic molecules to a single antibody. AbYlink™ is a conjugation technology suitable for rapidly generating new antibody-drug conjugates or imaging antibodies while preserving their original affinity for their target.

“We are highly motivated to explore the potential of these antibodies targeting well-validated oncology targets such as HER2 and HER3,” expressed Frederic Levy, Senior Executive Director of Research, Evaluation, and Scientific Innovation. “Combining these promising molecules with our conjugation technology could enhance their effectiveness and safety in addressing a wide variety of tumors with high clinical need.”

“We are truly excited about the powerful synergy of SunRock’s monoclonal antibodies and bispecific antibodies with Debiopharm’s ADC platform and clinical development capabilities,” said Laureano Simón, CEO of SunRock Biopharma.

Original Source: Dawn Bonine, Head of Communications (dawn.bonine@debiopharm.com), tel: +41 (0)21 321 01 11 – Debiopharm Press Release (09/21/2023).

About Multilink™

Multilink™ is a novel cleavable linker platform suitable for the attachment of multiple drugs and compatible with any conjugation technology to produce ADCs with a high drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR). This unique and innovative technology allows the attachment of multiple cytotoxic molecules to a single antibody for enhanced therapeutic effect. This highly effective and well-tolerated conjugation platform is available for other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies to develop their own clinical-stage ADCs.

About AbYlink™

AbYlink™ is a rapid and versatile antibody conjugation technology for diagnostic and ADC preparation purposes. This selective method uses defined, invariant conjugation sites without affecting antigen-binding regions. It facilitates a seamless and homogeneous antibody-drug conjugation process, ensuring optimal stability and controlled drug release at the site of action. AbYlink allows researchers to design cutting-edge ADCs with increased efficacy, safety, and specificity to address unmet medical needs in patients.

About SunRock

SunRock Biopharma is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing therapeutic antibodies targeting highly invasive tumors with urgent clinical needs. SunRock has developed a unique portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class therapeutic antibodies and bispecific antibodies against novel targets such as CCR9 and other well-characterized targets like HER3.

About Debiopharm

Debiopharm develops innovative therapies focused on oncological and infectious diseases with high medical needs.

The company’s goal is to identify high-potential compounds and technologies for licensing, demonstrating their clinical safety and efficacy, and subsequently selecting major pharmaceutical partners, bridging the gap between disruptive product discovery and global patient access.

For BIOGA, promoting cross-sector collaboration with other entities and enhancing national and international networking activities is a priority. To learn more about us, please visit the following link.