Oncobiologics and Fox Chase Cancer Center have agreed to co-develop a novel, next-generation bi-specific antibody cancer platform with enhanced therapeutic capabilities against solid tumors. The jointly engineered platform is designed to handle multiple targets, representing a pipeline of promising cancer treatments. This research program is now underway, with preclinical studies expected in Q1-2012 for the first molecule using this platform.

The platform integrates intellectual property originated by both Oncobiologics and Fox Chase. Oncobiologics will play a key role in the discovery program that will be carried out at Fox Chase, and will engage its proof-of-concept engine to develop therapeutic products and move them through clinical trials. The two organizations expect to partner with established pharmaceutical/ biopharmaceutical companies for commercialization of drug candidates resulting from the platform, and are actively seeking co-development partners.

Matt Robinson, Ph.D., the principal investigator at Fox Chase and John Cini, Ph.D., vice president at Oncobiologics, said, "We believe this platform can improve cancer therapies by improving tumor delivery, enhancing pharmacokinetics, and providing the opportunity for synergistic bi-specific antibody delivery."