Cambridge spinout Crescendo Biologics has leveraged its transgenic protein discovery platform to license out an antibody to biopharmaceutical developer Zai Lab.

Crescendo Biologics, a UK-based immunotherapy develop spun out from University of Cambridge, has agreed to license out one of its antibodies to biopharmaceutical developer Zai Lab.

The exclusive worldwide licence allows Zai Lab to develop, commercialise and manufacture an antibody treatment for inflammatory conditions based on Crescendo’s Humabody transgenic protein discovery platform.

Zai Lab expects to file for an investigational new drug in 2019 as a target for skin disorder psoriasis.

Transgenics involves the transfer of genetic material from another species, mice in Humabody’s case, to another. Humabody uses the mice to host human chromosomal constructs without outputting mouse antibodies.

Founded in 2007, Crescendo’s core business focuses on oncological therapies discovered through Humabody that target T cells, a form of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the body’s immune system.

The spinout’s lead asset, CB307, specifically stimulates T cells within the local microenvironment of targeted tumours.

Crescendo Biologics closed a $70m series B round in April 2018 led by Andera Partners’ Biodiscovery V fund that featured commercialisation firm IP Group along with EMBL Ventures, the investment arm of European Molecular Biology Laboratory.

Takeda Ventures, the corporate venturing subsidiary of drug developer Takeda, Sofinnova Partners and Quan Capital’s Quan Venture Fund I also participated in that round.

Crescendo and Takeda had previously signed a $790m collaboration agreement in 2016 under which Takeda committed up to $36m associated with upfront payments, preclinical milestones, research capital and wider investment.

Pharmaceutical firm Astellas’s investment arm, Astellas Venture Management, injected an undisclosed sum into Crescendo in December 2014, eight months after EMBL Ventures invested $3.3m to take the company’s series A round to $32m.

Touchstone Innovations, a commercialisation division of IP Group then known as Imperial Innovations, had led the first $28.9m series A close in 2013, investing together with Astellas Venture Management and Sofinnova Partners.

Sofinnova had already led Crescendo’s $7.3m seed round in 2010, with contributions from Aitua, Avlar BioVentures and government-backed research vehicle Rainbow Seed Fund, which later became UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund.