Nordic Nanovector in blood cancer pact

The two companies plan to develop antibody-drug conjugates targeting leukaemias, hoping for a piece of the US$5bn pie the market for blood cancers represents. 

For Nordic Nanovector, the collaboration comes hot on the heels of a similar deal with LegoChem Biosciences, a South Korean biopharmaceutical company. In early October, the two companies had partnered up to develop novel CD37-targeting antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of leukaemias.

In the current collaboration, Nordic Nanovector will provide the antibody targeting a specific antigen on the surface of leukaemia cells and expertise in its chemistry and manufacture, as well as development expertise for targeted therapeutics should a suitable candidate ADC be developed. Heidelberg Pharma, on its end, furnishes its complementary technologies for creating ADCs through conjugation of tumour cell killing payloads to tumour targeting antibodies.

“During the past year, we have made important steps to execute our strategy designed to build a pipeline of innovative antibody-radionuclide conjugates and ADCs that combine our expertise and platform with complementary technologies from expert partners,” commented Jostein Dahle, Nordic Nanovector’s Chief Scientific Officer. “This strategy is aimed at creating multiple new targeted treatment options for patients who suffer a range of leukaemias and lymphomas.”

For Heidelberg Pharma, the project is set to extend the German company’s ADC portfolio to further haematological cancers.