GSK announces purchase of UK antibody firm

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Domantis for 230 million pounds. Domantis is a privately-owned enterprise that develops next-generation antibody therapies.

UK-based Domantis will keep its operations in Cambridge while becoming a constituent part of the biopharmaceuticals centre of excellence for drug discovery (CEDD). The transaction is expected to be completed in January following standard regulatory clearance.

Domantis develops domain antibodies that can be administered in a number of manners, from injection and infusion to inhalation and topical treatment, while the large size of monoclonal antibodies restricts their administration to injection and infusion.

Mike Owen, senior vice president of biopharmaceuticals CEDD at GSK, said: “Domantis has pioneered the extension of antibody therapies to potentially far wider applications than has been possible with conventional monoclonal antibodies”.

He added that the company’s technology and abilities will add to the efforts of the CEDD of enhancing the role of GSK in biotechnology.

Currently, diseases being investigated by Domantis include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, multiple myeloma and rheumatoid arthritis.

In October, GSK announced that it was to acquire CNS for approximately $566 million (289.6 million pounds), an increase of 31 per cent over its trading price.