OBI Pharma And GlyTech Join Forces To Advance ADC Technology

OBI Pharma is a clinical-stage global oncology company specialising in innovative cancer therapies like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and immunotherapies. The company has announced a partnership with Japan-based GlyTech, a leader in glycan production and chemical glycosylation technologies. These two companies have signed a Marketing Agreement and a Material Transfer Agreement to advance ADC development and glycan production.

Heidi Wang, Ph.D., OBI Pharma’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “GlyTech has been one of our trusted suppliers for high-quality glycans. We are excited to collaborate with GlyTech to broaden the reach of OBI’s novel GlycOBI® ADC-enabling technologies with potential pharma and biotech partners in Japan. We also look forward to the collaborative research with GlyTech, which is part of our plan to ensure high quality, scalable glycan manufacturing and supply for ADCs”.

As part of the Marketing Agreement, OBI has granted GlyTech the rights to market and promote its GlycOBI® ADC enabling technologies, powered by EndoSymeOBI®, to pharmaceutical and biotech companies across Japan. GlyTech will also serve as a key supplier of glycans in the region, strengthening its role in advancing innovative cancer treatments.

Hiroaki Asai, President & CEO of GlyTech, said in a statement, “OBI Pharma’s innovative GlycOBI® ADC technologies are testaments to their command of enzyme-based precision synthetic organic chemistry. GlyTech, Inc. is pleased to support the contribution of GlycOBI® ADC technologies to the world as a supplier of highly pure human glycans, a key material for this technology. We look forward to OBI Pharma’s continuing progress in new drug development”.

The Material Transfer Agreement also allows OBI to provide GlyTech with cutting-edge materials for research purposes. This collaboration aims to enhance the production efficiency of glycans, a critical component in ADC development, ultimately accelerating progress in cancer therapeutics.