Licence agreement
The Dutch biotech company Crucell NV has announced a non-exclusive research licence agreement with Toyobo Gene Analysis of Osaka, Japan. Under the agreement, Toyobo Gene Analysis will evaluate Crucell’s STAR technology for generating cell lines for the production of recombinant proteins for third-party customers. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
It’s the third research licence for its STAR technology that Crucell – formed by Leiden University gene therapist Demonico (“Dinko”) Valerio in the 1990s – has reached in the past two months, following deals with Korea-based Celltrion and the US biopharma company Medarex.
STAR is a production technology that Crucell says is particularly useful for the production of recombinant human antibodies and proteins. The technology contains genetic elements, called STAR elements, that enable stable and high-yield gene expression important to recombinant antibody and protein production in mammalian cells. Crucell says the technology has the potential to increase production yields, thereby reducing production costs.
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