ADC Therapeutics enters licence option deal with Avacta Group

Under the terms of the agreement, Avacta Group (Cambridge, UK) will provide three small Affimer proteins designed to bind to undisclosed cancer targets with similar specificity and affinity to that of antibodies. ADC Therapeutics SA (Lausanne, Switzerland) will utilise its pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD)-based warhead and linker technologies to create Affimer drug conjugates. Furthermore, ADC Therapeutics will evaluate each of the Affimer drug conjugates (Affi-DC) preclinically.

Following preclinical testing, ADC Therapeutics has the option to obtain exclusive licenses to each of the Affi-DCs for clinical development and commercialisation. ADC Therapeutics will cover all of Avacta’s costs during the collaboration. Upon ADC Therapeutics entering into each of the commercialisation licenses and successfully bringing new Affimer-drug conjugates to market, Avacta will receive option fees, development and commercialisation milestones, as well as a single-digit royalty on sales.  

Further financial details were not disclosed.