SAPPORO, JAPAN, August 24, 2021 – NB Health Laboratory Co. Ltd. (NBHL) today announced that it has signed an exclusive license and collaboration agreement with ReCentrics Biotechnology Co. Ltd. (“ReCentrics”) to develop and commercialize NBHL’s G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) antibody therapeutic candidates for the treatment of severe human diseases. Under the agreement, NBHL will be responsible for the discovery of monoclonal antibodies targeting GPCRs and development through preclinical candidate selection. ReCentrics will be responsible for further pre-clinical and clinical development, marketing application, manufacturing, and global commercialization. NBHL is eligible to receive upfront, milestones and royalties on worldwide sales. ReCentrics will fund all future research, development, manufacturing and commercialization activities. The initial preclinical candidate in the collaboration is a GPCR target with great potential for oncology indications. Meanwhile ReCentrics has right of nominating up to three additional undisclosed GPCR targets utilizing NBHL’s proprietary technology platform, MoGRAAⓇ, to generates functional monoclonal antibodies. MoGRAAⓇsystem can present GPCR antigen in a conformationally stable form with a high level of expression in vivo using a proprietary GPCR expression vector. NBHL also established state-of-the-art assay platforms that could monitor various GPCR signaling pathways to identify antibodies with the desired function. “This collaboration represents NBHL’s commitment to our ongoing strategy to partner programs that address patients with significant unmet medical need in diverse disease areas, therefore bringing treatments to patients faster and more efficiently, while deriving maximum value from our platform” said Kiyoshi Takayama, Ph.D., founder and president of NBHL. “The combination of NBHL’s proprietary GPCR-targeted antibody discovery technology, ReCentrics’ research, drug development, and commercialization experience and capabilities, and our shared commitment to bring innovative medicines to patients, establishes the foundation for a robust and compelling collaboration.”addressed by Liaoyuan HU, Ph.D., founder and CEO of ReCentrics.
About ReCentrics
ReCentrics Biotechnology Co. Ltd. is a newly established biotechnology company with strong technical expertise in GPCR antibody discovery, evaluation, engineering, and development. Incorporated in Tianjin, China, ReCentrics has its R&D center in Pharma Valley of Shanghai and core team with profound experience in biologics drug discovery inherited from global leading biopharma companies like Amgen, Eli Lilly etc. The company is aiming to become a distinguished player in the field to provide value-added and differentiated solutions for unmet medical needs, especially in oncology, metabolism and immunological diseases.
About NBHL
NB Health Laboratory Co. Ltd. (NBHL) is a biotechnology company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative medicines to treat respiratory diseases, chronic inflammation and respiratory infectious disease such as COVID-19 and influenza. NBHL has expertise in the generation of functional antibodies targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and is pioneering a new field in GPCR-targeted drug discovery to benefit human health. For more information about the company, please go to https://nbhl.co.jp/.