SEOUL, South Korea, May 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ImmunoForge has announced on the 18th that it has expanded its license rights with Duke University to enhance joint research and drug development opportunities in relation to the elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) platform technology. Through this agreement, ImmunoForge expects to accelerate the development of new drugs based on the ELP technology that was originally developed by Professor Ashutosh Chilkoti at Duke University. Dr. Jim Ballance, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of ImmunoForge, has pioneered the clinical development of peptide drugs that are genetically fused to ELPs. The powerful research partnership between ImmunoForge and Duke University will revolutionize the delivery of peptide and protein drugs.
Duke University will have the right to develop new anticancer drugs with the ELP platform technology, and, if such drugs are commercialized with a partner, the university will share a portion of the profits with ImmunoForge. ImmunoForge retains the right to develop new products in all therapeutic areas other than anticancer drugs, and if it succeeds in global commercialization, a portion of the profits will be distributed to Duke University.
ImmunoForge is a venture-backed biopharma company that focuses on the development of new drugs for rare diseases and has received a total of four Orphan Drug Designations (ODD) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including one for Dermatomyositis that was received on March 29 2023. This is the second-highest number of ODD received by a single company from the US FDA in Korea. If a drug receives an ODD from the US FDA, it benefits from market exclusivity for up to seven years, regulatory assistance and guidance from FDA, tax credit on clinical trial expenses and eligibility for research grants.
ImmunoForge has also disclosed that it has signed a license agreement with a global pharmaceutical company for development of one or more drugs based on the ELP technology. However, specific contract details, such as the financial terms of the contract and technical matters related to the drugs, remain confidential.
"We are pleased to expand our relationship with ImmunoForge to continue development of novel therapeutics using the ELP platform, originally developed by Professor Chilkoti at Duke University", said Duke University Associate VP for Translation & Commercialization, Robin Rasor.
ImmunoForge's co-CEOs Sung-min Ahn and Kiho Chang stated "It is very meaningful that our capabilities in new drug development have been reinforced through expanding our cooperation with Duke—a leading global university–and by outlicensing to global companies", and that they "will continue to create open innovation and joint research opportunities with domestic and foreign companies, universities and research institutes for the ELP technology and ImmunoForge's new drug pipeline."
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