Ambrx and Roche Enter Into Broad Technology Collaboration
Thursday December 8, 1:30 am ET
BASEL, Switzerland and SAN DIEGO, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche and Ambrx Inc. today announced a collaboration in which Ambrx will use its proprietary technology to develop next generation proteins and peptides. These new compounds could offer efficacy or safety advantages over currently marketed products. Roche and Ambrx will initially use the technology platform to generate novel pegylated interferon alpha molecules.
"Roche is pleased to enter into this new partnership with Ambrx," said Peter Hug, Roche's Global Head of Pharma Partnering. "If proven successful, Ambrx's technology could potentially be beneficial to multiple projects in our biologics pipeline."
"This partnership with Roche further validates Ambrx's ability to deliver protein drug candidates with enhanced efficacy, safety and ease of use," said Martin A. Mattingly, Pharm.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Ambrx. "Our strategy is to partner with leaders in their respective fields. Roche has an excellent track record of success in the development and commercialization of novel interferon therapies."
Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will fund research and development of the products, and will retain exclusive worldwide commercialization rights. Ambrx will receive license fees, research funding and development milestone payments plus royalties on product sales. In addition, the Roche Venture Fund will make an equity investment in Ambrx.
About Ambrx
Ambrx is a biopharmaceutical company committed to transforming the science and performance of protein-based medicines. Building on a fundamental advance in protein biosynthesis, Ambrx can genetically engineer proteins with novel amino acid building blocks beyond the common 20. This approach represents a new paradigm in protein engineering and permits the pharmaceutical optimization of proteins in a manner analogous to that used for decades to improve the properties of traditional small molecule-based drugs and peptides. The company's most advanced product candidate, a human growth hormone with superior performance, is currently in GMP manufacturing with an IND filing anticipated in 2006. In addition, Ambrx is optimizing several other protein therapeutics representing large markets and significant unmet medical need. |
