Swedish Orphan Biovitrum ABhas exercised its option to sign a licensing agreement with Swedish biotech company Affibody AB for the development of novel treatments for inflammatory diseases where interleukin-1 (IL-1) is involved.
In 2012, Sobi signed a research collaboration agreement with Affibody, with an option to enter into exclusive licensing arrangements within IL-1. The research, which has been based on Affibody's proprietary technology, focuses on key proteins involved in the regulation of human immune and inflammatory processes.
An increasing body of evidence suggests that IL-1 is a key mediator of inflammation and driver of auto-inflammatory diseases in both adults and children. This offers a good strategic fit with Sobi's commercial focus on Inflammation as one of three key therapeutic areas, and with Sobi's strategic biologics development competence and capabilities.
The interleukin-1 family is a group of pro-inflammatory cytokines that play a central role in the regulation of immune responses in the human body. The cytokines are produced by different cells such as macrophages, monocytes and fibroblasts, and via binding to cellular IL-1 receptors they participate in acute and chronic inflammatory reactions. In addition, the IL-1 system is also involved in several other biological functions, such as metabolic and hematopoietic activities. IL-1 has emerged as therapeutic target for an expanding number of auto-inflammatory diseases where inhibition of IL-1 activity may form the basis for novel treatments.
