Partnering for Success
Ambrx will utilize partnerships to expand the breadth of antibody and protein-based drug candidates advancing towards commercialization and build out additional capabilities of Ambrx’s Protein Medicinal Chemistry™ core technology. These partnerships will utilize ReCODE™ and EuCODE™ to create both “first in class” and “best in class” product opportunities based upon drug targets identified and owned by Ambrx as well as targets owned by our collaboration partners. In advancement of this strategy, Ambrx has executed validating strategic alliances with following high quality parties: Pfizer, EMD Serono, Merck & Co. and Eli Lilly & Co.
Pfizer
In September of 2009, Ambrx entered into a worldwide alliance With Pfizer Inc. to discover, develop and commercialize protein drug candidates for three undisclosed targets in multiple therapeutic areas. This collaboration will capitalize on Ambrx’s recent breakthroughs in applying protein medicinal chemistry to proteins produced in mammalian cells such as antibodies and antibody drug conjugates. Ambrx has received an upfront payment and target loading fee, and will receive R&D support payments. Based upon successful progression of collaboration drug candidates, Ambrx is eligible to receive clinical, regulatory and commercial milestone payments along with royalties on annual sales of products.
EMD Serono
In June of 2007, Ambrx announced a strategic collaboration with EMD Serono on the development and commercialization of next-generation growth hormone products including ARX-201. ARX-201 has been optimized for potency and time of action, allowing less frequent dosing than the currently marketed products. Prior to collaboration, Ambrx had advanced ARX-201 into phase I/II clinical trials. EMD Serono has worldwide exclusive commercialization rights for ARX-201. Ambrx has received an upfront payment and research and development funding and is entitled to receive clinical, regulatory and commercial milestone payments based upon successful advancement of products. In addition, Ambrx will receive royalties on net sales of products, and retains an option to co-promote products within the US market.
In February of 2009, Ambrx entered in a second collaboration with EMD Serono. The focus of this collaboration is to develop and commercialize ARX424 for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In exchange for granting EMD Serono worldwide exclusive rights to ARX424, Ambrx received an initial payment and research and development funding. Ambrx is also eligible to receive clinical, regulatory and commercial milestone payments based on the successful development and commercialization of products, as well as royalties on net sales of such products. Ambrx also retains an option to share profits and losses in the U.S. In addition, Merck Serono has made an undisclosed equity investment in Ambrx.
Merck
In December of 2007, Ambrx entered into a diabetes and obesity drug discovery alliance with Merck & Company. Under this exclusive collaboration, ReCODE™ will be used to develop an optimized drug candidate designed to have improved therapeutic properties over the native FGF-21 protein. This transaction includes an initial upfront payment in addition to committed R&D payments. Ambrx will also be eligible to receive future milestone payments along with royalties on net sales. Ambrx also has the right to exercise an “end of Phase II” profit sharing option.
Eli Lilly
Ambrx entered into two separate collaborations with Eli Lilly in January and December of 2007 involving exclusive work within multiple target-defined fields on the discovery, development and commercialization of various classes of biologics drug candidates. Ambrx has received or is entitled to receive the following payments: upfront, research & development support; research, development and regulatory milestone-based. Upon commercialization, Ambrx shall receive annual royalty payments based upon worldwide net sales of products.
Our Capabilities
Ambrx’s strategy is focused on delivering positively differentiated protein and antibody-based product candidates to market. Our proprietary technology allows Ambrx and its strategic partners to perform protein medicinal chemistry™. This ability to efficiently generate multiple variants of wild-type proteins and antibodies, and select the best molecules for further evaluation as product candidates yields a significant competitive advantage. Our capabilities are as follows:
- >80 high caliber employees
- Over 650 issued patents and patent applications
- E. coli and mammalian protein expression capabilities
- Proprietary PEGylation and conjugation chemistries
- Drug classes enabled: proteins, antibodies, antibody fragments, antibody-based carriers of therapeutic peptides and proteins
