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BeiGene Acquires Global Rights (ex-China) to Singlomics' COVID-19 Antibodies

publication date: Aug 27, 2020
 | 
author/source: Richard Daverman, PhD

BeiGene (NSDQ: BGNE; HK: 06160) acquired global rights (ex-China) to anti-COVID-19 antibodies developed by Beijing Singlomics (DanXu) Biopharma. BeiGene will develop, manufacture and commercialize DXP-593 and DXP-604 (plus a series of antibody sequences aimed at SARS-CoV-2) as treatments for the pandemic disease. DXP-593 and DXP-604 were identified by sequencing antigen-enriched B cells from over 60 convalescent patients. Singlomics will receive an upfront payment, regulatory/commercial milestones and royalties, though specific details were not disclosed.

According to Singlomics, DXP-593 showed strong neutralization potency in preclinical testing, with an IC50 of 1.2 ng/mL and 15 ng/mL against pseudotyped and authentic SARS-CoV-2, respectively. In addition, it displayed strong therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy in SARS-CoV-2-infected rodent models.

DXP-604 binds to a different epitope from DXP-593, also with high potency. A combination of DXP-593 and DXP-604 may be used as a cocktail treatment to avoid resistance due to viral mutation.

“Our goal was to find highly potent neutralizing antibodies as quickly as possible in order to develop a potential treatment that can be scaled to treat more patients than convalescent plasma therapy can provide,” said Sunney Xie, Lee Shau-Kee Chair Professor of Peking University, Director of Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), and Co-Founder and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board at Singlomics.

“By collaborating with BeiGene, we are confident that these important scientific advancements are in good hands for the next stage of their development, as BeiGene has a strong global clinical development organization,” said Janet Xu Zhang, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO at Singlomics.

“Dr. Xie has made an important contribution to our understanding of COVID-19, utilizing single cell genomics to find potentially human neutralizing antibodies," said Lai Wang, PhD, Senior Vice President, Head of Global Research, Clinical Operations & Biometrics and APAC Clinical Development, at BeiGene. “We are looking forward to initiating clinical trials for this exciting program and to contribute to the worldwide efforts in developing novel treatments for patients with COVID-19.”

A Phase 1 randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial is expected to begin enrolling up to 30 healthy subjects in Australia in September. The Phase I/II multinational trial in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 is planned to start enrollment by early October.

See our other articles on BeiGene.

Disclosure: none.

 

 

 

 


 

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