— DJS Antibodies’ DJS-002 is a potential first-in-class antibody directed to LPAR1, currently in investigational preclinical studies for the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and other fibrotic diseases
— The company’s proprietary HEPTAD platform will extend AbbVie’s current discovery research capabilities by generating potential novel antibodies against difficult-to-drug protein targets in immunology and beyond
NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. , Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) today announced the acquisition of DJS Antibodies Ltd (“DJS”), the privately-held UK-based biotechnology company dedicated to discovering and developing antibody medicines that target difficult-to-drug disease-causing proteins, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). DJS’s lead program is DJS-002, a potential first-in-class lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor 1 (LPAR1) antagonist antibody currently inside investigational preclinical studies with regard to the remedying of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and other fibrotic illnesses. IPF is an aggressive, high mortality disease caused by fibrotic scarring in the particular lungs plus remains an area of high unmet medical need.
“We are excited to bring the innovative science behind DJS-002 and the talented team at DJS to AbbVie, ” said Jonathon Sedgwick , Ph. D., vice president and global head associated with discovery research, AbbVie. “This acquisition will deliver new capabilities in order to enhance our current antibody research activities, an opportunity to strengthen our immunology portfolio, and provide a strong foothold regarding expanded study efforts in the dynamic bioscience hub in Oxford, UK . ”
DJS’s proprietary HEPTAD platform is a novel approach to antibody finding with specific capabilities targeting transmembrane proteins targets. A key benefit of this acquisition is for AbbVie, through DJS, to access the particular HEPTAD platform as a complement to its current robust capabilities inside biotherapeutics analysis. DJS may leverage AbbVie’s extensive drug discovery expertise to continue producing antibody therapeutics and book biology insights against targets like GPCRs, which have previously been intractable to biologics approaches.
“DJS was built on the principles of scientific curiosity and an aspiration to discover clinically meaningful innovative medications. We’ve been privileged to grow the company within the world-class medical and entrepreneurial community associated with Oxford , from an initial concept through to a successful biotech comprising an extremely skilled team, inch said David Llewellyn plus Joe Illingworth , co-founders of DJS. “The whole team will be incredibly excited to take the next step in this journey with AbbVie as we work together to accelerate the particular translation of our lead program into the clinic and develop a good exciting research center here in the UK. ”
Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will pay DJS shareholders approximately $255 million within cash in closing intended for the acquisition of DJS. DJS shareholders remain eligible to get potential additional payments upon the achievement of certain development milestones related to the particular success of the DJS-002 program. AbbVie anticipates retaining all current DJS employees and its facility in Oxford .
DJS is usually backed by founding investors Oxford Science Enterprises plus Johnson & Johnson Innovation Ltd., along with LifeArc, Sedgwick Yard and Amgen Ventures.
DJS and the shareholders were advised simply by Centerview (Financial Advisor). Goodwin Procter LLP (Legal) advised DJS as well as investors on the transaction, and Cooley LLP (Legal) advised DJS on some other corporate matters including providing additional support around the deal.
About AbbVie
AbbVie’s mission is to find out and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the healthcare challenges associated with tomorrow. We strive in order to have a remarkable impact on people’s lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com . Follow @abbvie on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and LinkedIn .
Regarding DJS Antibodies
Based in Oxford, UNITED KINGDOM , DJS Antibodies is definitely a biotechnology company focused on creating the next generation of antibody therapeutics. DJS Antibodies utilizes their proprietary HEPTAD platform to enable antibody breakthrough to GPCRs and additional intractable focuses on. Using HEPTAD, the company has generated an unique pipeline including DJS-002, a novel antibody focusing on LPAR1 for the treatment associated with chronic fibrotic diseases. www.djsantibodies.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Some statements with this news release are, or may be considered, forward-looking statements pertaining to purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe, ” “expect, ” “anticipate, ” “project” and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. AbbVie cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks plus uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited in order to, failure to realize the expected benefits from AbbVie’s purchase of Allergan plc (“Allergan”), failure to promptly and effectively integrate Allergan’s businesses, competition from various other products, challenges to intellectual property, difficulties inherent inside the research and development process, adverse litigation or government action, changes in order to laws plus regulations applicable to our own industry and the impact of public health outbreaks, epidemics or even pandemics, like COVID-19. Additional information about the particular economic, competitive, governmental, technological along with other factors that could affect AbbVie’s operations is set forth in Item 1A, “Risk Factors, inches of AbbVie’s 2021 Annual Report about Form 10-K, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as updated by its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. AbbVie undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except because required by law.
SOURCE AbbVie
