Abzena and Lipum collaborate on anti-BSSL antibody program

UK biotech services firm Abzena (LSE: ABZA) has signed an agreement to support an integrated CMC program with Lipum, a Sweden-based company developing treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases.

Abzena will support Lipum’s anti-BSSL antibody investigation new drug (IND) program to help develop a novel therapeutic option for autoimmune inflammatory diseases, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The 18-month program includes: development of a research cell bank using Abzena’s proprietary cell line and ambr 15 automated high throughput bioreactors, generation of master cell banks, scale up using an ambr 250 during process development, followed by cGMP manufacturing in Sartorius 500 L single use stirred tank bioreactors for clinical material. The work will take place at Abzena’s sites in Cambridge, UK and San Diego, USA.

Lipum has received funding from the European Commission, Executive Agency for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (EASME), under the EU Framework Program for Research and Technological Development (Horizon 2020) for the purpose of developing its BSSL (bile salt-stimulated lipase) antibody for treatment of various autoimmune diseases