Pfizer and AbCellera Launch New Drug Discovery Collaboration
Pfizer Inc. and AbCellera Biologics, Inc. have entered into a new research collaboration focused on the discovery of therapeutic antibodies. The partnership will leverage AbCellera's platform to identify antibodies against multiple undisclosed membrane protein targets.
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. and biotechnology company AbCellera Biologics, Inc. announced in January 2017 a multi-year research collaboration. The agreement aims to discover new antibody candidates against challenging membrane protein targets using AbCellera's established discovery platform.
AbCellera will apply its proprietary single-cell antibody discovery technology to identify function-modulating antibodies against several undisclosed membrane protein targets. These proteins are often implicated in various diseases and can be difficult to research effectively.
AbCellera CEO Carl Hansen stated that the company's platform allows for deep screening of natural immune repertoires, unlocking new possibilities for challenging drug discovery programs. Pfizer's Vice President of Biomedicines Design, Will Somers, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration and the potential of AbCellera's technology to identify novel medicines.
The financial terms of the agreement were not fully disclosed but include an upfront payment and research support for AbCellera. The company is also eligible to receive up to approximately $90 million in contingent milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties should Pfizer successfully develop and commercialize antibodies discovered through the collaboration.