LegoChem Bioscience said it had transferred its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform technology to Amgen in a deal worth 1.6 trillion won ($1.2 billion).

Under the accord, Amgen will have the global development and commercialization rights for five targeted ADC therapies by utilizing its own antibodies and LegoChem’s next-generation ADC platform technology.

LegoChem’s clinical-stage ADC platform technology consists of a linker and payload that are selectively activated in cancer cells, and a method optimized for conjugation to a specific site of an antibody.

According to the company, its new ADC platform showed advantages such as high efficacy, low side effects, and excellent blood stability, allowing an ADC treatment with a wide therapeutic index and a high manufacturing yield.

LegoChem can receive up to about 1.6 trillion won ($1.2 billion), including technology usage fees, and milestones for clinical development and approval process, and commercialization. If approved, the company will also receive separate royalties according to sales.

However, LegoChem did not disclose the upfront fee amount.

“Amgen is a representative global pharmaceutical company introducing leading anti-cancer drugs to the market, and we are very happy that our ADC technology was selected for the development of next-generation ADC treatment,” LegoChem President Kim Yong-zu said. “The company plans to expand partnerships with global pharmaceutical companies in the future and accelerate growth by strengthening its own ADC pipeline.”