Jan 09, 2020: Almirall, a leading global pharmaceutical company focused on medical dermatology, and 23andMe, the leading consumer genetics and research company, have signed an agreement allowing Almirall to in-license 23andMe’s bispecific monoclonal antibody designed to block all the three members of the IL-36 cytokine subfamily.
IL-36 is a part of the IL-1 cytokine family, which is associated with the multiple inflammatory diseases, including different dermatological conditions. Almirall will secure the rights in order to develop and commercialize the antibody for worldwide use.
This agreement will reinforce Almirall’s early-stage research portfolio.23andMe’s Therapeutics team was established in 2015 with the goal of influencing the human genetic information to improve the way drug discovery is currently conducted.
With more than 10 million kits sold, and 80% of the customers consenting to research, 23andMe has the world’s largest set of genotypic information paired with billions of phenotypic data points contributed by occupied customers.
Based upon strong genetic evidence, 23andMe’s team generated a bispecific antibody that blocks the IL-36 cytokine family, has out-licensed its bispecific monoclonal antibody to Almirall in order to influence Almirall’s expertise in medical dermatology and accelerate the development of this preclinical program.
Almirall will further progress the antibody with the goal of taking it through clinical trials in humans and on top of the market. https://www.almirall.com/media/press-releases/media-detail-new?title=almirall-signs-a-strategic-agreement-with-23andme-to-license-rights-of-a-bispecific-monoclonal-antibody-that-blocks-all-three-isoforms-of-il-36-cytokine-1&articleId=4225082&id=4225083
