Adimab, a Lebanon, N.H.-based technology company focused on fully human therapeutic antibodies, and Mersana Therapeutics, a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) company based in Cambridge, Mass., have joined forces to offer integrated antibody discovery and ADC technologies.

The alliance is built to offer pharmaceutical companies seamless access to Adimab's antibodies that have been specifically optimized for use in ADCs together with Mersana's Fleximer polymer and broad array of customizable linkers for attaching diverse, potent payloads.

"We are excited to couple Mersana's innovative ADC technology with our platform for use by the pharmaceutical industry. The flexibility in payloads, linkers and drug loading enabled by Mersana's Fleximer technology complements Adimab's philosophy of tailoring drug development to the biology of the target of interest," said Tillman Gerngross, Adimab’s CEO. "With this deal, Adimab is further expanding its footprint beyond monoclonal antibody discovery. We view ADCs, as well as other aspects of antibody discovery such as bispecific formats, as important tools in the development of novel therapeutics."