Adimab, LLC, a company focused on the discovery and optimization of fully human monoclonal and bispecific antibodies, has formed an agreement with Merck & Co., to transfer Adimab's antibody technology to Merck Research Laboratories for the discovery and optimization of monoclonal and bispecific therapeutic antibody candidates. This technology transfer expands an ongoing collaboration between the two companies, initiated in 2009, which has yielded several undisclosed therapeutic candidates for Merck.

Under the terms of the agreement, Adimab will transfer and license its proprietary antibody discovery and optimization platform to Merck, enabling broad use by Merck researchers of the Adimab technology. Merck will receive a custom human antibody library texclusive to Merck, and will obtain a license to the Adimab platform for use in all therapeutic areas and all targets. Merck has also secured an option to receive continued improvements to the Adimab platform, including access to new antibody libraries. Adimab will receive an undisclosed upfront signing fee, future payments upon achievement of specified preclinical and clinical milestones, and royalties on any therapeutic products resulting from use of the technology.

Over the past six years, Adimab has established funded discovery collaborations with over 35 companies, including Merck who was one of the first Adimab partners. Other funded discovery partners include Novo Nordisk, Biogen, GlaxoSmithKline Roche, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Celgene, Gilead, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, and Sanofi.

Source: Adimab