Zai Lab Ltd., a leading biotech company based in China, has entered into a worldwide collaboration and license agreement with UCB, a global biopharmaceutical leader, to develop and commercialise a first-in-class monoclonal antibody for the potential treatment of autoimmune and other inflammatory diseases. The product is a clinical candidate ready for Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies and expected to enter clinical phase 1 in 2016.

"We are excited to partner with UCB, a global leader in developing drugs to treat immunological diseases," said Samantha Du, Zai Lab’s CEO.

"By working together we wish to accelerate the development of new treatments that can potentially cure or slow the progression of devastating autoimmune diseases such as graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). UCB’s commitment and expertise in this field offers the best opportunity to collaboratively develop therapies to treat diseases that affect large patient populations or certain orphan diseases.”

Ismail Kola, UCB’s chief scientific officer said, “Partnerships accelerate progress. While the knowledge and tools to tackle major health challenges have advanced, so too have their complexity. By bringing together Zai and UCB’s world class discovery teams we aim to create value and transform the lives of people with severe diseases.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Zai Lab will receive an exclusive, worldwide license to develop and commercialise the product in all indications. Zai Lab will lead all future clinical development, regulatory activities and commercialisation. In addition to an upfront payment, UCB will receive potential development, regulatory and sales-based milestone payments and tiered royalties on net sales of the licensed product.