Lexicon and Xoma establish collaboration for antibody development and commercialisation

Lexicon Genetics, from The Woodlands, TX, and Xoma are to jointly develop and commercialise antibody drugs for certain targets discovered by Lexicon. The collaboration is designed to combine Lexicon's target discovery and biotherapeutics capabilities with Xoma's antibody generation, process development and manufacturing expertise to accelerate the development and commercialisation of novel therapeutic antibodies.

During the three-year initial term, Lexicon will select for submission to the collaboration targets from among those discovered and analysed in its Genome5000 programme. In this programme, Lexicon is using its gene knockout technology to discover the physiological functions of 5,000 potential drug targets. Xoma will generate or engineer antibodies that modulate the collaboration's targets using phage display libraries and its proprietary Human Engineering technology. Lexicon and Xoma will jointly develop and commercialise novel antibodies directed at these targets and will share the responsibility and costs for research, preclinical, clinical and commercialisation activities. Costs and profits will be allocated 65% to Lexicon and 35% to Xoma. Xoma will have principal responsibility for manufacturing antibodies for use in clinical trials and commercial sales.

Lexicon and Xoma have already selected an initial target for inclusion in the collaboration. This target is a secreted protein that, when knocked out, results in leanness, resistance to diet-induced obesity and enhanced insulin sensitivity. Antibodies to this target may have utility in the treatment of type II diabetes, obesity and metabolic diseases. Lexicon has agreed to submit at least two other targets for consideration by the collaboration during the initial term.

'Xoma's broad array of antibody technologies and its strong intellectual property position in this area provide the collaboration a range of options for the development of Lexicon's promising antibody targets,' said Dr Arthur Sands, president and chief executive officer of Lexicon. 'In addition, Xoma's process development and manufacturing capabilities will enable us to move more rapidly through development and to the commercialisation of our future therapeutic products.'

'Lexicon's validated antibody targets create a strong foundation for developing new and unique therapeutics based on novel mechanisms of action,' said John Castello, president, chairman and chief executive officer of Xoma. 'Combining these targets with Xoma's antibody expertise should create a formula for successful drug development.'