Harbour BioMed and Hualan Genetic Announced Collaboration to Develop Multiple Innovative Antibody Programs
Harbour BioMed (HBM), a global, clinical-stage, innovative biopharmaceutical company announced a strategic partnership agreement with Hualan Genetic Engineering Co., Ltd (Hualan Genetic) to develop HBM’s three proprietary innovative monoclonal and bispecific antibodies.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hualan Genetic will be responsible for preclinical and process development in exchange for exclusive rights for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of these innovative antibody drugs in Greater China (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau). HBM will retain the rights for advancing the clinical development and commercialization in rest of the world. Both parties will collaborate on clinical developments and drug manufacturing. HBM will receive an upfront payment of USD 8.75M and royalties based on sales in Greater China.
Using its proprietary H2L2 and HCAb fully human transgenic mouse platforms, HBM has developed a series of novel antibody candidates against oncology and immunological diseases. Many of these candidates have already progressed to preclinical and clinical stages. HBM has developed an immune cell engager platform HBICE™, and one product of this collaboration with Hualan Genetic is HBICE™ bispecific antibody.
Hualan Genetic has been dedicated to R&D and the production of monoclonal antibodies, recombinant human coagulation factors, recombinant hormone drugs. To date, the company has 19 recombinant protein products under development and 7 monoclonal antibody products that received approval for the clinical trial, among which several are under Phase III clinical study. Hualan Genetic is a novel biopharmaceutical company specializing in R & D, production and sales with product indications covering a dozen major diseases, including breast cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and diabetes mellitus.
“We are pleased to join forces with Hualan to accelerate the development of novel therapeutics based on our HCAb platform that gives us the flexibility to design and develop innovative therapeutics. This collaboration brings together complementary capabilities to address patients’ needs across the world.” said Dr. Jingsong Wang, Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of HBM. “As a global biopharma, we have been collaborating with several industry and academic partners around the world to leverage complementary capabilities in both research and development to advance the next generation of therapeutics in oncology and immunology.” he added.
Dr. Wenqi An, General Manager of Hualan Genetic, said, “Business of antibody drugs is one of the core strategic directions for the future development of Hualan Genetic. Previously, Hualan Genetic has successfully completed R&D of 7 monoclonal antibody drugs and established an antibody-drug production line with a scale of 10,000L. Hualan Genetic is on the development path transiting from the production of biosimilars to R&D of products concentrated on the latest antibody technologies (such as HBICE™ bispecific antibody). Hualan is very pleased to cooperate with HBM to accelerate our buildup of innovative product pipeline and accomplish the upgrade from biosimilars to bio-innovative drugs.”