VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
AbCellera (Nasdaq: ABCL), Viking Global Investors (“Viking”), and ArrowMark Partners (“ArrowMark”) announced today that they have entered into
a collaboration to advance new antibody drug programs with an aim to launch multiple asset-based companies. The
first two programs will be in the area of immunology.
The collaboration brings together Viking and ArrowMark’s expertise in early-stage investing and company creation
with AbCellera’s engine for discovering and developing antibody medicines. Under the
collaboration, ArrowMark and Viking will lead the initial process of program selection, followed by joint
determination of the therapeutic product profile and AbCellera’s initiation of new antibody drug programs.
AbCellera will advance programs to development candidates and has an option to conduct cGMP manufacturing to
support Phase 1 clinical trials. Successful programs will be further developed through the creation of Newcos,
with Viking and ArrowMark funding work through to company launch.
“The next generation of drug targets requires the best technology to unlock their potential. We aim to address
the significant unmet medical need in the lives of patients struggling with autoimmune disorders and other
diseases,” said Tony Yao, M.D., Ph.D., Life Science Portfolio Manager at ArrowMark. “AbCellera is the proven
technology leader in the space, and with its full, in-house drug development capabilities it can advance
programs from concept to IND-enabling studies with speed and precision.”
"Successful biotech companies are created from a special alchemy of science, business, technology, talent, and
capital,” said Carl Hansen, Ph.D., founder and CEO of AbCellera. “Our strategic alliance with Viking and
ArrowMark brings strong relationships and complementary strengths to a common mission — launching new companies
and creating innovative new medicines that move the needle for patients in need."
Under the terms of the collaboration, Viking and ArrowMark will be majority shareholders of the Newcos, and
AbCellera will participate as an equity founding partner with the potential for milestones and royalties on
future sales of each product.
About AbCellera Biologics Inc.
AbCellera (Nasdaq: ABCL) discovers and develops antibody medicines for
indications across therapeutic areas including cancer, metabolic and endocrine conditions, and autoimmune
disorders. AbCellera’s engine integrates technology, data science, infrastructure, and interdisciplinary teams
to solve the most challenging antibody discovery problems. AbCellera is focused on advancing an internal
pipeline of first-in-class and best-in-class programs and collaborating on innovative drug development programs
with partners. For more information, please visit www.abcellera.com.
About ArrowMark Partners
ArrowMark Partners is a privately held, employee-owned investment management firm founded in 2007 and
headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Unified by a fundamental, research-driven philosophy and integrated
investment platform, we focus on niche and less efficient market segments in public and private credit and
equity, leveraged loans, and middle-market commercial real estate finance where our size, agility, and
specialized expertise can deliver differentiated investing outcomes for clients.
AbCellera Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are based on
management’s current beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. All
statements contained in this release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements,
including statements regarding our ability to develop, commercialize, and achieve market acceptance of our
current and planned products and services, our research and development efforts, and other matters regarding our
business strategies, use of capital, results of operations and financial position, and plans and objectives for
future operations.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,”
“should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,”
“continue,” “ongoing” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all
forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors
that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from
the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other
factors are described under “Risk Factors,” “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations,” and elsewhere in the documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from
time to time. We caution you that forward-looking statements are based on a combination of facts and factors
currently known by us and our projections of the future, about which we cannot be certain. As a result, the
forward-looking statements may not prove to be accurate. The forward-looking statements in this press release
represent our views as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements
for any reason, except as required by law.
Source: AbCellera Biologics Inc.