Oxford Licenses Antibody to Sanofi

Sanofi-aventis has acquired an exclusive worldwide license to one of Oxford BioTherapeutics’ (OBT) preclinical antibody programs. Sanofi-aventis will use the licensed antibody, which is directed against a novel target identified by OBT, to develop, manufacture and commercialize antibody drug conjugate (ADC) products for the treatment of cancer. ADC products comprise toxins attached to antibodies, which creates highly targeted therapeutic products that attack tumor cells.

OBT will receive an undisclosed upfront cash payment and is eligible to receive development and regulatory milestone payments, royalties on the worldwide products sales, and performance-based milestones.

“This is the most advanced antibody licensing deal that OBT has signed to date and I am delighted that the target and antibody capabilities that we have built have been recognized by a world leading pharmaceutical company such as Sanofi-aventis,” said Christian Rohlff, chief executive officer of OBT. “Given their expertise and experience in cancer drug development, I am very pleased that a program from our broad preclinical pipeline will be developed by Sanofi-aventis.”