Kyowa Hakko licences Complegent technology to BioWa

Kyowa Hakko has reported the development of an innovative antibody engineering technology for the complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC)-enhancement of therapeutic antibodies Complegent, with the firm licensing this technology to BioWa.

BioWa is the US-based exclusive licensee of the Potelligent antibody engineering technology for the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADDC)-enhancement of therapeutic antibodies, a procedure also established at the research labs of Kyowa Hakko.

Kyowa reports that antibodies produced using Complegent technology have a superior activity to isotopes of natural IgG1 and IgG3, two isoptopes of immunoglobulin G have different biological effects.

The trademark name given to the antibody formed through the combination of Potelligent and Complegent technologies is AccretaMab, with Kyowa Hakko expressing its commitment to promoting the research and development of this antibody.

The company claims that studies in animals shows antibodies produced using the Potelligent procedure to have anti-tumour effects that are 100 times stronger than those resulting from the use of traditional antibodies.

In May 2007, Takeda Pharmaceutical signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement with BioWa relating to the use of the Potelligent technology platform.

In exchange for an initial license fee and other milestone-linked payments, Takeda procured the right to use the Potelligent technology for the development of ADCC-enhanced antibodies.