Bayer to Partner With Twist Bioscience to Accelerate Drug Discovery

• Collaboration gives Bayer access to Twist Bioscience’s pool of phage display libraries
• Twist Bioscience eligible to receive up to USD 188 million in clinical and commercial milestone payments plus royalties

BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bayer AG has entered into an antibody discovery, option, and license agreement with Twist Bioscience Corporation, a company offering high-quality synthetic DNA using its silicon platform.

The company’s “Library of Libraries,” a collection of synthetic antibody libraries that harnesses innovative structural and developability features to cover a wide range of antibody drug targets, is tailored to address specific challenges in antibody discovery. It has the potential to increase the probability of success of antibody discovery programs across indications and focus areas.

“Partnering with Twist Bioscience complements our strategy to advance breakthrough innovations based on new scientific approaches and platform technologies,” said Juergen Eckhardt, M.D., Member of the Executive Committee of Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division and Head of Business Development, Licensing & Open Innovation. “Its ‘Library of Libraries’ offers an optimal design to accelerate drug discovery processes to make a meaningful impact in patients’ lives faster.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Twist will receive payments connected with the initiation of research and will be eligible to receive fees associated with research activities. The antibody leads discovered under the collaboration that enter clinical development qualify for certain success-based clinical and commercial milestone payments as well as royalties from product sales. In total, Twist is eligible to receive up to USD 188 million in clinical and commercial milestone payments plus royalties. In return, Bayer receives exclusive rights to license the antibodies for commercialization in all global territories.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2022, the Group employed around 101,000 people and had sales of 50.7 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

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