ReceptaBio

ReceptaBio Biopharma S.A. is a Brazilian biotechnology company operating as a clinical-stage entity focused on the research and development of novel biopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment. The company was established in 2006 through a strategic partnership between Brazilian private investors and the Ludwig Cancer Research (LCR) Institute. The concept was driven by José Fernando Perez, a physicist and the company's CEO, who previously served as the scientific director of FAPESP from 1993 to 2005. Perez, alongside leaders from LCR, identified Brazil's competitive advantages for a science-based enterprise in drug development, leading to ReceptaBio's formation with initial backing from angel investors.

The company's core business revolves around developing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and peptides, which are molecules designed to bind to specific targets on cancer cells. This action can either directly inhibit tumor cell survival or stimulate the patient's immune system to attack the tumor, offering a more targeted therapeutic approach compared to traditional treatments. ReceptaBio's operational model is built on a network of collaborations with centers of excellence in R&D, including universities, research institutes like the Butantan Institute, and hospital centers across Brazil for conducting clinical trials. The company is pre-operational and its funding model relies on shareholder resources and significant support from Brazilian government agencies, such as the Studies and Projects Financier (FINEP) and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). It has also received substantial equity investments from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), which acquired a stake in 2012, and FINEP, which became a shareholder in 2016.

Upon its creation, ReceptaBio licensed the intellectual property for four monoclonal antibodies from the LCR, which had shown therapeutic potential in prior research. A significant milestone was achieved in March 2012 when the U.S. FDA granted orphan drug status to its lead candidate, ReMab 100, for treating ovarian cancer, marking a first for a Brazilian company. The company has also entered into licensing agreements with international partners. Notably, it licensed an antibody to the U.S.-based Mersana Therapeutics for the development of an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), retaining commercialization rights in Brazil. This agreement included potential milestone payments of up to $86 million. ReceptaBio's R&D pipeline includes generating stable cell lines for mAb production, conducting pre-clinical studies, and managing multi-phase clinical trials to test therapeutic safety and efficacy.

Keywords: ReceptaBio, biopharmaceutical, oncology, cancer treatment, monoclonal antibodies, peptides, clinical trials, drug development, Ludwig Cancer Research, José Fernando Perez, BNDES, FINEP, FAPESP, antibody-drug conjugate, orphan drug, Brazilian biotechnology, immunotherapy, cancer research, biopharma, oncology therapeutics, clinical-stage company, targeted therapy, ReMab 100