Lotte Biologics said it has entered into a strategic partnership with NJ Bio, a U.S. contract research organization (CRO), to enhance antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) services.

Established in 2018 and based in New Jersey, NJ Bio specializes in integrated chemical and biological services for linker payload and ADCs.

The company has made notable strides in process development, analytical method development and validation, and stability studies, culminating in winning the "Best CRO" award three times consecutively at the ADC World Summit, showcasing its global competitiveness.

The production of ADC pharmaceuticals typically requires comprehensive capabilities, including ADC process development, analytical method development and validation, linker-payload development and synthesis, stability studies, preclinical and clinical production, commercial production of antibody medicines, and commercial-scale ADC production.

The partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both companies in payload, linker, antibody, and conjugation.

NJ Bio will provide Lotte Biologics with technology for ADC process development, analytical method development, and linker-payload development and synthesis, while Lotte Biologics will utilize these technologies for preclinical research and the manufacturing of antibodies and ADCs for clinical and commercial products.

Lotte Biologics and NJ Bio also plan to jointly develop bioconjugation processes and apply them to the ADC production facility currently being expanded at Lotte Biologics' Syracuse site. Both parties expect that the collaboration will lead to the manufacturing of optimized ADC pharmaceuticals.

"Combining NJ Bio's strengths in bioconjugation and linker-payload synthesis with Lotte Biologics' expertise in antibody drug manufacturing, we anticipate significant synergies," a Lotte Biologics official said. "This strategic partnership will position our Syracuse site to become a leading ADC contract manufacturing center in North America."

Meanwhile, the recent partnership comes amid Lotte Biologics being actively engaging in open innovation to internalize ADC capabilities.

In April of last year, the company established a strategic operational partnership with Pinotbio, an ADC platform specialist, securing a primary supplier for antibody and ADC production in its pipeline.

Furthermore, in July, Lotte Biologics announced a joint development with the domestic bio venture Kanaph Therapeutics to internalize ADC technology platforms.