Biotechnology companies Synthetic Biologics and Intrexon have entered into a worldwide exclusive collaboration to develop therapies for infectious diseases.
The companies plan to develop and commercialise monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies for infectious diseases with under-developed treatments.
Synthetic Biologics chief executive officer Jeffrey Riley said the collaboration, which is the second between the companies, will strengthen relationships with Intrexon and develop for therapeutics for unmet medical needs.
"Intrexon has state-of-the-art technologies and efficient processes that have tremendous potential for the production of a broad spectrum of fully human antibodies," Riley said.
Although Synthetic and Intrexon are targeting three infectious disease indications, this may be expanded to include a further five.
Synthetic Biologics plans to disclose some indications when commercially appropriate.

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By GlobalDataIntrexon Protein Production Division president Saiid Zarrabian said Intrexon’s collaboration with Synthetic Biologics represents the culmination of acquired and internally-developed technologies.
"Intrexon’s core technology, the UltraVector platform for design, construction, and testing of genetic components, integrated with the mAbLogix platform for in vitro B cell library production and the LEAP cell processing station, will allow for the rapid end-to-end development from fully human antibody discovery to therapeutic," Zarrabian said.
Under the agreement, Synthetic Biologics will have access to Intrexon’s proprietary technologies, such as UltraVector; DNA and RNA MOD engineering; protein engineering; transcription control chemistry; genome engineering; LEAP-based cell processing and cell system engineering.
Intrexon will receive approximately 3.6m Synthetic common stock shares as a technology access fee upon execution of the agreement together. With previously-issued shares, Intrexon will own approximately 18% of Synthetic Biologics.
Intrexon is also eligible to receive additional fees if the collaboration expands. Should more than three disease indications be developed, they will receive further funds, and additional shares or cash will be paid if certain milestones are reached. Intrexon will also be eligible for quarterly royalties on annualised worldwide net sales.