Boehringer Ingelheim links with Xencor on MAb supply

Independent German drug major Boehringer Ingelheim has entered into a collaboration agreement  with USA-based, privately-held biotech firm  Xencor, which uses its proprietary Protein Design Automation (PDA) platform technology to engineer next-generation antibodies, for certain of the latter’s biosuperior monoclonal antibodies (MAbs).

Under the terms of the accord, financial terms of which were not disclosed, Boehringer Ingelheim will provide all manufacturing and product supply from preclinical through Phase I development. Xencor is responsible for preclinical and clinical studies and retains all development and commercial rights to products under the agreement. Upon successful advancement of clinical programs beyond Phase I development, Boehringer Ingelheim has certain manufacturing rights to supply clinical and commercial material to Xencor.

"Xencor has developed a deep portfolio of biosuperior antibodies with the potential for superior clinical and commercial performance, and this collaboration agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim allows us to establish an important relationship with the leading global contract manufacturer of biologics," said Bassil Dahiyat, president and chief executive of Xencor, adding: "Xencor and Boehringer Ingelheim will share the financial risk in early preclinical and clinical development with the incentive of sharing in future success of the programs."