Y-mAbs and Bioneer have been collaborating since Y-mAbs was a young and newly founded biotech company in 2016. In general, the companies support each other on several projects and at various stages of their research and development. Y-mAbs, which focuses on developing new cancer treatments, including using antibodies to target cancer cells, benefits from Bioneer’s expertise in biotechnology and medical research and development.
“You could say that Bioneer acts as our laboratory and extended R&D arm. We don’t have our own labs, so it makes good sense to collaborate with another company with lab facilities just 300 meters away,” Tore Söderblom, Vice President of CMC Development at Y-mAbs explains.
Tore Søderblom and Jette Asboe Lassen in Bioneer’s antibody laboratory
Bioneer supports Y-mAbs with critical and diverse R&D tasks on their path to clinical trials. This includes developing production processes, analytical methods, and formulations for Y-mAbs’ investigational antibodies for cancer treatment.
A project for one of the most common childhood cancers
One project in their collaboration involved developing a process and analytical methods to support the clinical development of a product now on the market in the U.S., among other places, to treat high-risk neuroblastoma – a childhood cancer arising in the sympathetic nervous system, most often near the adrenal glands. The treatment is an immunotherapy with a targeted effect directly on the tumor cells.
The collaboration between the two companies has been successful and productive. They have both recognized that relations and trust are essential:
The relationship is strong and seamless, and the collaboration runs smoothly when you’re located close by. For example, if needed, it takes just a few minutes to send over a sample to move the work forward.
Tore Søderblom
Vice President of CMC development at Y-mAbs
Technology development collaboration eases cancer research
Fifteen to twenty years ago, cancer was often fatal. Today, there is a far better understanding of the disease, and new technologies continuously emerge, providing new and improved treatment options.
For instance, there is a much greater understanding of a patient’s immune system’s crucial role in cancer. However, simulating this when selecting new drug candidates remains challenging. How do we demonstrate which drug works best in combination with the immune system and is the right candidate to advance in development?
At Bioneer, they specialize in In Vitro modeling, a method of conducting experiments using advanced cell-based disease models without using living organisms. This approach allows them to test and select drugs in an artificial tumor environment that mimics the body’s signals and the immune system’s effects.
Research and development in cancer medicine is highly complex. This makes it essential for companies like Y-mAbs and Bioneer to collaborate on technology development, disease modeling, and antibody production. This collaboration becomes easier when you’re physically close and part of the same professional community.
Jette Asboe Lassen
Chief Business Officer at Bioneer
Both companies find that being located in DTU Science Park, at the heart of Medicon Valley, is highly advantageous, as it offers proximity to many potential collaborators on both sides of the Øresund.
About Y-mAbs Therapeutics:
Y-mAbs Therapeutics is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing new cancer treatments, particularly in children. They focus on creating medicines that target specific molecules or structures in the body involved in cancer diseases. The company employs advanced technologies such as antibodies and radiotherapeutic products that attack cancer cells while causing minimal harm to healthy cells.
One of their focus areas includes treatments for neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer that primarily affects children. They are also working on developing treatments for other forms of cancer. The goal is to make cancer treatment more effective and gentler for patients.
About Bioneer:
Bioneer is a contract research and manufacturing company owned by DTU (Technical University of Denmark). They assist biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies with the preclinical development of new drugs. This includes everything from developing models and tests in the laboratory to producing and formulating biological components such as proteins and cells.
As a strategic partner for both small and large companies, Bioneer aims to shorten the development pathway from initial idea to the emergence of new drug candidates. They offer advanced laboratories, expert insights, and tailored services that companies can use to develop, test, and produce new drug candidates. Examples of their services include 3D cancer models, immunological cell models, and the development of customized processes for protein production.
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