Y-Biologics, a South Korean biotech, and the French pharmaceutical group Pierre Fabre have entered into a license agreement granting worldwide exclusive rights to Pierre Fabre to develop and commercialize a family of human antibodies generated through the phage display human antibody Ymax-ABL library owned by Y-Biologics.

These antibodies have been functionally validated by Pierre Fabre R&D teams for their specific properties on a pivotal immuno-oncology target acting on the tumoral microenvironment. Pierre Fabre intends to select a new therapeutic candidate in immuno-oncology for further development.

This licensing agreement results from an ongoing collaboration initiated in 2018. The companies aim to create innovative healthcare solutions medical supplies to target refractory or relapsing cancer, taking advantage of the immune infiltrate to inhibit the growth of tumor cells.

Young Woo Park, CEO of Y-Biologics, said, "We are very pleased to sign our first license agreement with Pierre Fabre. The collaboration between Y-Biologics and Pierre Fabre which is being conducted based on mutual trust, is expected to further advance the development of innovative immuno-oncology therapeutics targeting the tumor microenvironment"

"Since the beginning of our partnership, the collaboration with Y-Biologics has been very efficient and fruitful.  Their library has allowed us to identify a family of human antibodies against a promising target defined by our researchers at our dedicated Center of Immunology. This new exciting license agreement will allow us to further support the development of this therapy for the benefit of patients," said Nathalie Corva?a, Head of Immuno-Oncology Research, Center of Immunology Pierre Fabre.