Invenra and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Enter Collaboration to Discover Therapeutic Antibodies Against Novel Target

MADISON, Wis. & HERSTON, Australia

Invenra, Inc., a pre-clinical stage bio-pharmaceutical company focused on next-generation therapeutic human antibodies, bispecifics and antibody derivatives, and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (“QIMR Berghofer”), one of Australia’s largest, fully integrated biomedical research and development centres today announced a collaboration to identify and characterize a panel of fully human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against a novel target that QIMR Berghofer has identified. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Invenra’s proprietary platform is based on ultra-high throughput technology allowing function forward screening of full-length antibodies using Invenra’s mAbSeqTM technology, where antibodies can be directly and quickly interrogated in a multi-plexed fashion with a diverse set of immunotypic and biologically relevant assays. The Invenra technology allows rapid identification of high affinity mAbs with the broadest epitope coverage possible while simultaneously performing direct phenotypic screening to isolate those mAbs with the most relevant biological activity, thus leading to the election of the best lead compounds for further development.

QIMR Berghofer’s Director and CEO, Professor Frank Gannon, said, “We welcome this collaboration and look forward to working with the team at Invenra to advance the characterization and development of novel, effective cancer therapies. At QIMR Berghofer we are strongly committed to translating our research into new and better treatments, diagnostics and prevention strategies.”

Roland Green, CEO and president of Invenra, said, “This collaboration is a significant milestone for Invenra as a company and another validation of our innovative technology. We are delighted to be collaborating with the outstanding team at QIMR Berghofer to identify best-in-class antibodies against their novel target. In addition, this collaboration with QIMR Berghofer fits well within our business model, whereby we are partnering with a select group of organizations while continuing to develop our own internal proprietary pipeline of therapeutic product candidates.”

About Invenra, Inc.

Invenra is a pre-clinical stage bio-pharmaceutical company focused on discovering the next generation of best-in-class biologics, with an emphasis on monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), bispecific antibodies using their proprietary B-Body™ and TAIL™ platforms, empowered mAbs and their derivatives. Invenra’s proprietary technology combines state-of-the-art libraries and in vitro display methodologies, cell-free expression of full-length antibodies and extreme miniaturization enabling the screening of unprecedented numbers of full-length antibodies in direct phenotypic assays. For the first time, all potential antibodies of interest in a library can be screened for biological activity and other desirable traits. Invenra’s platform technology will produce the broadest epitope coverage possible and co-optimization of antibody design goals with biological activity will result in the highest caliber lead therapeutics.

About QIMR Berghofer

QIMR Berghofer is a world-leading medical research institute in Brisbane, Australia. It has established an international reputation for research excellence and consistently rates in Australia’s top two medical research institutes. QIMR Berghofer is home to almost 900 scientists, students and support staff. The institute has more than 50 state-of-the-art laboratories across four departments: cell and molecular biology; genetics and computational biology; immunology; and, population health. QIMR Berghofer’s research is focused on cancer, infectious diseases, mental health and chronic disorders. The institute is home to a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility, Q-Gen Cell Therapeutics, and a clinical trials facility, Q-Pharm. It has also introduced initiatives to support the commercialisation of its research.

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