Japanese firm Chugai Pharmaceutical has announced that it has entered into a license agreement for worldwide non-exclusive rights of several Chugai’s antibody engineering technologies with Novo Nordisk A/S.

Under the terms of agreement, Novo Nordisk will receive the rights to use several Chugai’s antibody engineering technologies for their research activities and optional rights for the development and marketing of therapeutic antibodies applying those technologies. In return for the license, Chugai will receive a fee for technology access. In case Novo Nordisk creates a candidate antibody and exercises optional rights, Chugai will receive an upfront payment, milestone payments according to the development status, and royalty payment if the compound is launched as an approved antibody drug.

“Antibody engineering technology is one of Chugai’s core competencies and has led to the creation of innovative antibody drugs,” said Dr. Junichi Nezu, Chugai’s Vice President, Head of Research Division. “We have high hopes that Novo Nordisk will utilize Chugai’s proprietary antibody engineering technologies to solve unmet medical needs and create novel medicines.”

“With this agreement we have secured long-term access to antibody engineering technologies from Chugai which is one of the world leading companies within this field” added Lars Fogh Iversen, Senior Vice President, Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk. “Novo Nordisk is committed to protein-based therapeutics and access to premier technologies is essential to advancing the highest quality therapeutic programs.”