Cambridge, UK  – June 24, 2019: Kymab, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing antibody-based therapeutics, today announced a strategic partnership agreement with LifeArc, a leading UK medical research charity. The agreement will enable LifeArc to enhance its antibody drug discovery capabilities into new medicinal products with Kymab’s proprietary IntelliSelect technology platforms.

Under the terms of the agreement, LifeArc made an initial US$10 million equity investment in Kymab, with a commitment to an additional US$20 million equity investment. Kymab will receive a percentage of revenues that LifeArc generates from any products discovered and commercialized using Kymab’s technologies.

The partnership provides LifeArc with access to Kymab’s advanced suite of next generation antibody discovery technologies, building on the charity’s success to date in antibody generation and selection. These technologies include Darwin, one of Kymab’s new transgenic platforms that replaces the original transgenic platform, combined with its human antibody screening platform which together can quickly deliver candidate therapeutics with the most desirable drug-like properties. The IntelliSelect technology platforms are designed to rapidly generate in vivo mature, fully human monoclonal antibodies.

Melanie Lee Ph.D., CBE, CEO of LifeArc, said: “At LifeArc, our focus is to translate promising research into direct benefits for human health and we have been highly successful in this, particularly in the area of antibody engineering. This unique opportunity with Kymab provides us with a new technology platform to rapidly generate the best antibodies across a range of therapeutic targets.”

Simon Sturge, CEO of Kymab, said: “I am delighted that LifeArc, with its focus on transformational medical research which has led to drugs such as Keytruda®, has chosen our IntelliSelect platforms for their future antibody discovery programmes. LifeArc has a proven track record in discovering innovative, life-changing medicines for patients, and I look forward to our working together on therapeutic programmes that have the potential to transform patient’s lives.”

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For further information:

LifeArc 

Media
Janet Morgan
Director of Corporate Affairs
info@liferarc.org

Surinder Maan
Communications Manager
info@liferarc.org

Kymab

Investors
Brandon Lewis
+44 (0)1223 833301
brandon.lewis@kymab.com

Media
USA: Katie Engleman, 1AB
katie@1abmedia.com

Europe: Mary-Jane Elliott / Sukaina Virji / Melissa Gardiner
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5700
kymab@consilium-comms.com

Forward-looking statements

 This announcement includes forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, future events, performance and/or other information that is not historical information. All such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date made, except as required by law.