Grifols collaborates with startup FcR Therapeutics to develop autoimmune therapies

Partnership aims to create recombinant nanobodies to treat immune disorders

Grifols, a global healthcare company and leading manufacturer of plasma-derived medicines, has announced a collaboration with biotechnology startup FcR Therapeutics to develop recombinant nanobodies for treating autoimmune diseases.

These nanobodies are specialised antibody fragments designed to inhibit the activity of Fc receptors on immune cells.

Fc receptors play a crucial role in immune responses. Grifols will support FcR Therapeutics, based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, by contributing its extensive knowledge of immunoglobulins, the human immune system and recombinant proteins.

This collaboration aims to develop therapies that restrain Fc receptors which can help regulate excessive immune activity in autoimmune patients. Patients with autoimmune conditions often experience overactive immune systems that attack healthy tissue.

Suppressing Fc receptors can mitigate this excessive activity providing a targeted approach to treatment. Immunoglobulins and their immunomodulatory effects already help treat autoimmune diseases like CIDP, ITP and GBS.

Dr Jörg Schüttrumpf, Grifols Chief Scientific Innovation Officer, stated: “Grifols is excited to contribute its deepening knowledge of therapeutic antibody development, including recombinants, to FcR Therapeutics in its work to treat immune system disorders with unmet medical needs.”

He also emphasised the importance of enhancing Grifols’ internal innovation portfolio with complementary external capabilities to develop new treatments.

Mark de Boer, CEO of FcR Therapeutics, added: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Grifols, enabling us to develop key therapeutics for autoimmune patients around the world.” He believes that targeting Fc receptors with their nanobody approach will significantly impact the treatment of autoimmune diseases and improve patients’ lives.

Grifols’ collaboration with FcR Therapeutics is part of its commitment to innovation in autoimmune disease therapeutics. This partnership reflects Grifols’ strategy to strengthen its robust innovation pipeline across both early and late-stage initiatives.