Debiopharm and Genome & Co. Agree on Potential First-In-Class Oncology ADC Family

Debiopharm, a Swiss biopharmaceutical company, has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Genome & Company, a South Korean biotechnology firm, for the development of pioneering antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). This collaboration grants Debiopharm global rights to utilize Genome & Company’s antibodies in conjunction with Debiopharm’s innovative Multilink™ technology. The aim is to create novel therapeutic agents that effectively target and treat difficult-to-manage cancers.

ADCs represent a leading-edge approach in oncology therapy, combining three key components: a monoclonal antibody, a stable linker, and potent cytotoxic agents. These compounds are designed to identify and attach to specific antigens on cancer cells, delivering toxic agents directly to the cancerous cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. This mechanism enhances therapeutic efficacy and reduces the systemic toxicity and side effects often seen with traditional cancer treatments. Given the increasing interest in ADCs, the stability of the linker has emerged as a critical factor for ensuring specific and effective drug release.

Frederic Levy, Chief Scientific Officer of Debiopharm, highlighted the promising collaboration with Genome & Company, noting the synergy between Genome’s innovative antibodies and Debiopharm’s Multilink™ technology. This partnership aims to develop first-in-class ADCs that address tumor types with significant unmet medical needs. Debiopharm is dedicated to advancing their ADC platform, exploring new bispecific ADCs, novel payloads, dual payloads, and degraders, leveraging their extensive drug development expertise to accelerate the availability of ADC products to patients.

Yoo Seok Hong, CEO of Genome & Company, emphasized the significance of this agreement as the company's first out-licensing deal in novel anti-cancer therapies. He expressed optimism about showcasing results from their broader pipeline of novel target anti-cancer drugs, bolstered by this licensing arrangement.

Multilink™ is Debiopharm’s proprietary cleavable linker platform, designed for multidrug attachment and compatibility with various conjugation technologies. This platform supports the creation of ADCs with a high drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR), enhancing therapeutic impact. The Multilink™ technology allows multiple payloads to be loaded onto an antibody, offering a unique and effective treatment approach with higher stability and efficacy.

Debiopharm's ADC portfolio features targets with first-in-class or best-in-class potential, including Debio 1562M, a CD37-targeted ADC for treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and Debio 0532, an HER3-targeted ADC for solid tumors. The company has also secured partnerships to explore bispecific antibodies targeting HER2-HER3 and HER3-EGFR, along with other undisclosed targets. The most advanced program, Debio 1562M, is expected to enter clinical trials by 2025. Debiopharm continues to invest in their ADC platform, investigating novel and dual payloads and degraders to expedite the development of ADC products for patients.

Genome & Company specializes in discovering and developing novel cancer target antibodies for standalone therapy and ADC applications. Utilizing their GNOCLE™ drug discovery platform, they adopt a bed-to-bench approach based on real-world clinical data to drive their research and development efforts.

Debiopharm is committed to developing innovative therapies addressing high unmet medical needs in oncology and infectious diseases. They focus on bridging the gap between groundbreaking discoveries and global patient access by clinically validating the safety and efficacy of high-potential compounds and technologies before partnering with major pharmaceutical companies for commercialization.