Tillotts Pharma and Numab announced the exclusive global licensing agreement to develop and commercialize new antibody-based therapies that act against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The partnership demonstrates Tillotts’ commitment to developing new treatments to improve care for patients with IBD and, upon successful development, will add to a strong track record in the registration and marketing of IBD treatments globally. Under the terms of the agreement, Tillotts will develop and commercialize new formulations of anti-TNF-antibody fragments identified by Numab.
Numab is eligible to a signing fee and, upon successful development, will receive down- and milestone payments, as well as royalties up to double-digits. After successful pre-clinical trials, and prior to submission of an investigational new drug (IND) application to the U.S. FDA, Tillotts will be seeking a co-development and marketing partner for the U.S. market with a strong interest in working with Tillotts to further develop antibody-based therapies that block TNF-α.
TNF-α is a cell signaling protein involved in the body’s immune system. When overproduced, it is associated with IBD, a group of conditions consisting of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease that affects up to five million people worldwide. Anti-TNF therapy has been shown to reduce hospitalizations and surgeries, and improve quality of life.