Singapore: Genmab has entered into a research collaboration with Japan-based Kyowa Hakko Kirin to create bispecific antibodies using Genmab's DuoBody technology. If successful, the parties may decide to enter into a license agreement to develop a new DuoBody product.

"We have made excellent progress in partnering our innovative DuoBody technology platform, with the Kyowa Hakko Kirin agreement marking our fourth DuoBody platform collaboration within the past year. We believe this keen level of interest on the part of top tier pharmaceutical companies clearly illustrates the promise of bispecific antibodies created with the DuoBody platform, and also demonstrates the technology's compatibility with a range of antibody-platforms," said Dr Jan van de Winkel, chief executive officer of Genmab.

The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. This agreement will not have a material impact on Genmab's 2012 financial guidance.

The DuoBody platform is an innovative platform for the discovery and development of bispecific antibodies that may improve antibody therapy of cancer, autoimmune, infectious and central nervous system disease. Bispecific antibodies bind to two different epitopes either on the same, or on different targets (also known as dual-targeting) which may improve the antibodies' specificity and efficacy in inactivating the disease targets.

DuoBody molecules are unique in combining the benefits of bispecificity with the strengths of conventional antibodies which allows DuoBody molecules to be administered and dosed as other antibody therapeutics. Genmab's DuoBody platform generates bispecific antibodies via a fast and broadly applicable process which is easily performed at standard bench, as well as commercial, manufacturing scale.