Shire has snapped up exclusive worldwide rights from Novimmune for an innovative, bispecific antibody currently in preclinical development for the treatment of patients with haemophilia A and haemophilia A with inhibitors.

Under the deal, Shire will lead development of the programme to optimise and assess the fully-human, bispecific IgG antibody targeting FIXa and FX, designed to imitate the body’s natural mechanism of Factor VIII-driven coagulation.

The company says its ultimate aim is to “deliver a treatment that improves upon the strong and long-term record of efficacy and safety that has been set by the Factor class”.

The programme, adds Fritz Scheiflinger, head Global Research at Shire, builds on the firm’s monoclonal antibody (MAb) capabilities and scientific expertise in haematology.

“While further development and clinical trials are needed to fully evaluate this antibody, we are encouraged by the potential of the data that we have seen in early discovery and the promise it may hold for hemophilia A patients and patients with inhibitors,” he noted.

Shire now has range of MAb programmes in play, spanning hereditary angioedema (HAE), diabetic macular oedema, antibody-mediated autoimmune disease, and anti-thrombotic therapy.

Specific terms of its deal with Novimmune - which adds to an existing agreement signed between the firms in 2015 to generate and evaluate Factor VIII-mimetic, bispecific antibodies - have not been revealed.