VICTORIA, BC, Sept. 17, 2020
/CNW/ - IMMUNOPRECISE ANTIBODIES LTD. (the "Company" or "IPA")
(TSX VENTURE: IPA) (OTCQB: IPATF) (FSE: TQB2), a leader in
full-service, therapeutic antibody discovery and development,
announce a research collaboration with Zymeworks Inc., giving
ImmunoPrecise access to Zymeworks' Azymetric™ and EFECT™
platforms for the further development of its multiple antibody
candidates to fight COVID-19.
Under the terms of the agreement, IPA will transform its
previously tested and potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies
into bispecific and multispecific antibodies using the Zymeworks'
platforms. These sets of candidates will be thoroughly tested using
SARS-CoV-2 spike protein provided by the National Research Council
Canada ("NRC"), prior to pre-clinical manufacturing at the NRC for
animal studies. Timelines for the Companies pre-clinical studies
examining the efficacy of IPA's Polytope therapies using
traditional antibody formats are not impacted by these additional
investigations into formulation.
"Global health issues like the COVID-19 pandemic represent
significant times for companies like IPA to share our collective
expertise and technologies to bring forward safe and efficacious
therapies," said Ali Tehrani, Ph.D.,
President and CEO of Zymeworks. "We look forward to continuing our
relationship with ImmunoPrecise as they advance multi-specific
candidates toward the clinic."
"After the discovery of potently neutralizing antibodies in a
combinatorial setting, it was a logical consequence for us to look
into clinically-proven, multi-specific antibody platforms," said
Jennifer Bath, Ph.D., President and
CEO of ImmunoPrecise Antibodies. "IPA is pleased to collaborate
with the Zymeworks team as we work together to treat COVID patients
using our extensive, collective expertise."
Jennifer Bath, Ph.D., Chief
Executive Officer of ImmunoPrecise, has reviewed and approved the
scientific disclosure of this news release.
The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its
product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain COVID-19 (or
SARS-CoV-2) at this time.
About the Azymetric™ Platform
The Azymetric platform enables the transformation of
monospecific antibodies into bispecific and multispecific
antibodies, allowing simultaneous binding to several different
disease targets. This unique technology enables the development of
multifunctional therapeutics that can block multiple signaling
pathways, recruit immune cells to tumors, enhance receptor
clustering and internalization, and increase tumor-specific
targeting. These features are designed to enhance efficacy while
reducing toxicities and the potential for drug resistance.
Azymetric therapeutics have been engineered to retain the desirable
drug-like qualities of naturally occurring antibodies, including
low immunogenicity, long half-life and high stability. In addition,
they are compatible with standard manufacturing processes that
deliver high yields and purity, potentially reducing drug
development costs and timelines.
About the EFECT™ Platform
The EFECT platform is a library of antibody Fc modifications
engineered to activate or suppress the antibody-mediated immune
response. This platform, which is compatible with traditional
monoclonal as well as Azymetric bispecific antibodies, further
enables the customization and optimization of therapeutic responses
for different diseases.
About Zymeworks Inc.
Zymeworks is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company
dedicated to the development of next-generation multifunctional
biotherapeutics. Zymeworks' suite of therapeutic platforms and its
fully integrated drug development engine enable precise engineering
of highly differentiated product candidates. Zymeworks' lead
clinical candidate, ZW25, is a novel Azymetric™ bispecific antibody
currently in Phase 2 clinical development. Zymeworks' second
clinical candidate, ZW49, is a bispecific antibody-drug conjugate
currently in Phase 1 clinical development and combines the unique
design and antibody framework of ZW25 with Zymeworks' proprietary
ZymeLink™ linker-cytotoxin. Zymeworks is also advancing a deep
preclinical pipeline in oncology (including immuno-oncology agents)
and other therapeutic areas. In addition, its therapeutic platforms
are being leveraged through strategic partnerships with nine
biopharmaceutical companies. For more information, visit
www.zymeworks.com.
About ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd.
ImmunoPrecise is a global technology platform company with
end-to-end solutions empowering companies to discover and develop
therapies against any disease. The Company's experience and
cutting-edge technologies enable unparalleled support of its
partners in their quest to bring innovative treatments to the
clinic. ImmunoPrecise's full-service capabilities dramatically
reduce the time required for, and the inherent risk associated
with, conventional multi-vendor product development. For further
information, visit www.immunoprecise.com or contact
solutions@immunoprecise.com.
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains statements that, to the extent
they are not recitations of historical fact, may constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities laws. The Company uses words such as "may",
"would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "believe", "intend",
"should" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking
statements and include the Company's beliefs with respect to the
potential for its antibodies to be further developed or approved to
treat COVID-19 (or SARS-CoV-2) or to complete any transactions
with respect to those antibodies. Any such forward-looking
statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by
ImmunoPrecise in light of its experience and its perception of
historical trends, current conditions and expected future
developments. However, whether actual results and developments will
conform to ImmunoPrecise's expectations and predictions is subject
to any number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties. Many factors
could cause ImmunoPrecise's actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements
contained in this news release. Such factors include, among other
things, actual revenues and earnings for IPA being lower than
anticipated, and those risks and uncertainties described in
ImmunoPrecise's annual management discussion and analysis for the
previous quarter ended April 30, 2020
which can be accessed at www.sedar.com. The
"forward-looking statements" contained herein speak only as of the
date of this press release and, unless required by applicable law,
ImmunoPrecise undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise
such information, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release. SOURCE ImmunoPrecise Antibodies
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SOURCE ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd.