Numab and Chinese pharma company start R&D collaboration

Sushine Guojian, a subsidiary of the Chinese pharmaceutical group 3SBio, has invested CHF 15 million in Numab as part of a Series B financing round. According to a press release announcing the investment, Zhenping Zhu, R&D director at 3SBio, has joined Numab’s board of directors.

3SBio’s subsidiary has also entered into a partnership with Numab to develop multi-specific antibodies for the therapy of cancer based on Numab’s technology platform. Sunshine Guojian has the right to select up to five antibody molecules and has the exclusive licenses to develop and commercialize them in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Numab retains exclusive commercial rights in the rest of the world.

The investment will enable Numab to further expand and advance its portfolio of multi-specific antibodies, said David Urech, CEO of Numab. Based in Wädenswil in the canton of Zurich, Numab has entered into other partnerships with the Chinese pharmaceutical company CStone Pharmaceuticals and the Japanese companies Ono Pharmaceutical, Kaken Pharmaceutical and Eisai.

In October, Daniel Vasella, former CEO and chairman of the Basel-based pharmaceutical company Novartis, joined Numab’s board of directors.