Genomics company Twist Bioscience has entered an antibody discovery, option and licence agreement with German drug manufacturer Bayer.
Twist Bioscience’s division Twist Biopharma Solutions will use its Library of Libraries to carry out antibody discovery campaigns against targets provided by Bayer.
Twist will receive payments linked to research initiation and is also eligible to receive fees linked to milestones in research and in the exercise of licensing options.
Success-based clinical and commercial milestone payments will also be provided for antibody leads discovered under the partnership that enter clinical development. Royalties will be offered on product sales.
Twist will be eligible for $188m in clinical and commercial milestone payments and royalties, while Bayer will have exclusive rights to license the antibodies for commercialisation in territories worldwide.
Twist Bioscience CEO and co-founder Emily Leproust stated: “Our ongoing partnership with Bayer leverages the full suite of our Twist Biopharma Solutions offering of antibody discovery services to identify the best antibodies for Bayer’s specific targets.
“By combining the scientific and technical strengths of each organisation, and importantly the level of mutual trust built over several years working together, we look forward to identifying and developing new therapies in multiple disease areas to positively impact patients who need it the most.”
This is the third collaboration between the two companies. In April 2023, Twist Bioscience collaborated to help Astellas Pharma discover antibodies for immunotherapies.
