Lonza’s Synaffix, Sidewinder Therapeutics sign bispecific ADC licensing deal
Synaffix, a biotechnology company owned by Swiss-headquartered contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Lonza, and Sidewinder Therapeutics, a San Diego–based biotech focused on precision antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapies, have entered into a multi-target licensing agreement aimed at advancing the development of first-in-class bispecific antibody-drug conjugates for solid tumor indications.
Under the agreement, Sidewinder gains access to Lonza’s clinically validated, site-specific ADC technology platform, including antibody conjugation, polar spacer, and linker-payload technologies, according to the announcement. Sidewinder will apply the platform to its pipeline of bispecific antibodies designed to enhance tumor-cell specificity and internalization, with the goal of improving the therapeutic index of ADCs for solid tumors.
“Sidewinder’s bispecific antibody approach targeting tumor-specific receptor complexes combined with Synaffix’s clinically validated site-specific linker-payload platform creates an ideal synergy with the potential to greatly impact patient benefit,” Eric Murphy, co–founder and CEO of Sidewinder, said in a statement. “This collaboration advances our mission to reshape the cancer treatment landscape by improving tolerability for bispecific ADCs.”
Lonza will be eligible to receive upfront, clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, as well as royalties on net sales of any resulting products, the companies said. The CDMO will manufacture components related to its proprietary technologies, while Sidewinder will be responsible for research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of the ADC candidates.
The licensing agreement comes as Lonza continues to emphasize its global manufacturing footprint and available U.S. capacity as a competitive advantage, according to recent analyst coverage.
William Blair analysts have said Lonza is the only CDMO with available large-scale U.S. mammalian capacity, pointing in part to the company’s acquisition of Roche’s Vacaville, California facility and ongoing investments to integrate and upgrade the site.
Analysts have also cited Lonza’s parallel investments in Europe, including a new fill-and-finish facility in Stein, Switzerland, as strengthening its ability to support customers across modalities, geographies, and stages of development.