There’s a reason the infinity sign is one of argenx’s hallmarks: their dual commitment to patients and science is boundless, much like their drive to develop life-changing immunology solutions for those most in need. Since 2008, argenx has been focused on translating first-in-class product candidates into novel medicines for rare, debilitating autoimmune diseases. Today, the organization employs more than 1,000 dedicated innovators.
Innovation
argenx’s Immunology Innovation Program (IIP) is a core business strategy, connecting external scientific and academic collaborators’ specialized insight into disease and target biology with the company’s own unparalleled experience as antibody engineers. By innovating all the way from the discovery level, they have built a broad pipeline of differentiated potential immunology solutions to offer patients.
argenx collaborated with Prof. E. Sally Ward, PhD while she was at UT Southwestern to engineer efgartigimod, which modulates neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) function in a unique fashion. Efgartigimod is in studies for 13 indications, which are known or believed to be immunoglobulin G (IgG) mediated: generalized myasthenia gravis (for which it is now FDA approved in both intravenous and subcutaneous formulations), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), myositis, thyroid eye disease, immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), COVID-19 mediated postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), Sjogren’s syndrome, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA) vasculitis, pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus, membranous nephropathy, lupus nephritis, and antibody mediated rejection.
argenx innovates at both the variable region or V region, where antigens and foreign proteins are recognized, and the constant region or Fc region, where antibodies modulate other cells in the immune system. SIMPLE Antibody™ is argenx’s proprietary platform designed to source V regions from the immune system of “outbred” llamas, while three Fc engineering technologies (NHANCE®, ABDEG™, and POTELLIGENT®) are intended to expand the therapeutic index of argenx antibodies.
Talent Development
The “argenx Way” is grounded in its core values of Innovation, Co-creation, Excellence, Humility, and Empowerment. Recognizing its people are its greatest strength, argenx believes it is critical to foster a collaborative, inclusive culture in which everyone feels safe and encouraged to contribute and excel.
Social Responsibility
argenx’s commitment to patients far outreaches simply developing medicines—they listen to patients and immerse themselves in the community so they can hear directly about their experiences and needs. Its investment in holistic patient care programs extends to families and caregivers because they know that behind every patient living with autoimmune diseases is a community of families and caregivers. As part of this, they are also building strong partnerships with advocacy organizations globally to identify ways to collaborate on behalf of patients and their supporters.
This commitment also includes building a long-term sustainable business that will contribute to a more sustainable future for our planet. Becoming a more sustainable business presents an opportunity to argenx and all of its stakeholders—patients and those who support them, healthcare providers, employees, research collaborators, and the wider community.
