Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, have entered into a licensing agreement under which Regeneron will use MedImmune's pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD)-based warhead and linker technology to produce antibodydrug conjugates (ADCs) as potential cancer treatments.

Regeneron will have exclusive rights to utilize MedImmune's proprietary PBD technology to develop ADCs against a number of cancer targets. MedImmune will receive an upfront payment, development and commercial milestone payments, as well as single-digit royalties on net sales of such products. MedImmune has the option to develop and commercialize certain products created with this technology in territories outside of the United States.

Regeneron's clinical pipeline in oncology includes a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor antibody, which is being developed in collaboration with Sanofi, and a CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody. Regeneron expects to advance multiple additional candidates into human clinical trials over the next 12 to 24 months. MedImmune's PBD technology was invented and developed by Spirogen, a company acquired by MedImmune in 2013.

Source: Regeneron Pharmaeuticals