3SBio Inc., a leading China-based biotechnology company focused on researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing biopharmaceutical products, has entered into an exclusive license with PharmAbcine, Inc. for the development, manufacturing and marketing of Tanibirumab, an anti-VEGFR2/KDR antibody for cancer in the territory of Greater China (including Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau) and several emerging countries, including Thailand, Brazil and Russia. The deal included undisclosed upfront, milestone and royalty payments.

Angiogenesis is correlated with disease progression and poor prognosis in many tumour types, such as colon, lung, breast and gastric cancers. VEGF and KDR (VEGFR2) are over-expressed in most malignant tumours, such as gastric, liver, NSCLC, ovarian, brain, colorectal, and breast cancers and their signaling is key regulator for tumour angiogenesis. Researchers from PharmAbcine have developed Tanibirumab, an anti-VEGFR2/KDR fully human monoclonal antibody to treat solid tumors. Tanibirumab binds KDR and blocks binding of VEGFR ligands, including VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D. Consequently, Tanibirumab inhibits ligand-stimulated activation of KDR, therefore inhibits ligand-induced angiogenesis, proliferation, and migration of human endothelial cells.

Tanibirumab had demonstrated anti-angiogenic efficacy against several cancer types and shown cross-species cross reactivity in multiple preclinical animal models including breast cancer, glioblastoma (GBM), lung cancer, colon cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In November 2011, an open-label, non-randomized, dose-escalating phase I trial began to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of Tanibirumab, administered intravenously, in 26 patients in Korea with advanced or metastatic cancer. The trial was finished in November 2013, with good safety and efficacy results. A phase II study of Tanibirumab in GBM is being planned.

"We are pleased to collaborate with PharmAbcine and look forward to moving Tanibirumab into clinical trials in China," Dr. Jing Lou, president and CEO of 3SBio commented, "3SBio continues to seek opportunities to expand our biologics pipeline, especially novel mAb candidates for refractory or metastatic cancers and other unmet medical needs, particularly in 3SBio's core therapeutic areas of oncology and nephrology."

"Tanibirumab is a drug candidate with great potential to treat malignant tumors," Dr. Jin-San Yoo, president and CEO of PharmAbcine commented, "3SBio is a well-established industry leader with long-term vision in the innovative biological field in China, which makes them an ideal partner for strategic collaborations. We are looking forward to working with 3SBio to maximize this opportunity and benefit tens of thousands of Chinese patients suffering for cancers and other severe diseases."

Tanibirumab is an anti-VEGFR2/KDR fully human monoclonal antibody for targeting solid tumors. Angiogenesis is correlated with disease progression and poor prognosis in many tumor types, such as colon, lung, breast and gastric cancers. VEGF and KDR (VEGFR2) are over-expressed in most malignant tumors, and their signaling is key regulator for tumor angiogenesis. Tanibirumab binds KDR and blocks binding of VEGFR ligands, including VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D. Consequently, Tanibirumab inhibits ligand-stimulated activation of KDR, therefore inhibits ligand-induced angiogenesis, proliferation, and migration of human endothelial cells.

Tanibirumab had demonstrated anti-angiogenic efficacy against several cancer types and shown cross-species cross reactivity in multiple preclinical animal models, including breast cancer, glioblastoma (GBM), lung cancer, colon cancer, and hepatocelluar carcinoma. In November 2011, an open-label, non-randomized, dose-escalating, phase I trial began to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of Tanibirumab, administered intravenously, in 26 patients in Korea with advanced or metastatic cancer. The trial was finished in November 2013, with good safety and efficacy profiles. A phase II study of Tanibirumab in GBM is being planned.

PharmAbcine is a clinical stage biotech company that develops fully human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and next generation bi-specific antibodies using innovative discovery technology and excellent human resources for the treatment of human diseases, such as cancer and inflammatory diseases.