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Human Genome Sciences and Novozymes Announce Amendment to Albumin Fusion License Agreement
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Human Genome Sciences
, Inc. and
Novozymes Biopharma
announced that they have amended an existing license agreement to allow both companies to expand application of their proprietary albumin fusion technology.
Under the amended agreement, HGS and Novozymes each has the opportunity to exclusively license and/or sublicense a number of albumin fusion proteins in exchange for royalties and other consideration. No existing HGS or Novozymes products or product rights, including rights licensed to other companies, are affected by these amendments. Financial or other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“Genetic fusion of therapeutic proteins to albumin can improve the pharmacology of the proteins, resulting in important benefits to patients,” said Barry A. Labinger, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, HGS. “For example, with certain therapeutic proteins, albumin fusion may make it possible to dose less frequently and reduce side effects associated with injections. We are pleased to work with Novozymes to broaden the application of albumin fusion technology to new classes of proteins and peptides.”
Thomas Videbæk, Executive Vice President, Novozymes, said, “We are delighted to expand this license agreement with HGS. We license both the fusion protein and the yeast expression systems, which have been optimized for producing albumin fusion proteins as the solution that provides an efficacious half-life in patients. Our strength lies in the fact that we focus on solutions and that is why Novozymes is an ideal partner for the pharmaceutical industry. This enables Novozymes to continue to further develop albufuse®, our proprietary albumin fusion technology, and advance our existing and new partnerships.”
Under the amended agreement, HGS and Novozymes each has the opportunity to exclusively license and/or sublicense a number of albumin fusion proteins in exchange for royalties and other consideration. No existing HGS or Novozymes products or product rights, including rights licensed to other companies, are affected by these amendments. Financial or other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“Genetic fusion of therapeutic proteins to albumin can improve the pharmacology of the proteins, resulting in important benefits to patients,” said Barry A. Labinger, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, HGS. “For example, with certain therapeutic proteins, albumin fusion may make it possible to dose less frequently and reduce side effects associated with injections. We are pleased to work with Novozymes to broaden the application of albumin fusion technology to new classes of proteins and peptides.”
Thomas Videbæk, Executive Vice President, Novozymes, said, “We are delighted to expand this license agreement with HGS. We license both the fusion protein and the yeast expression systems, which have been optimized for producing albumin fusion proteins as the solution that provides an efficacious half-life in patients. Our strength lies in the fact that we focus on solutions and that is why Novozymes is an ideal partner for the pharmaceutical industry. This enables Novozymes to continue to further develop albufuse®, our proprietary albumin fusion technology, and advance our existing and new partnerships.”
