NJ Bio and Ajinomoto Collaborate on Antibody-Drug Conjugate Development

Partnership expands access to AJICAP™ site-specific conjugation platform for NJ Bio's clients.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:26pm

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NJ Bio, Inc., a leading provider of integrated drug discovery and development services, and Ajinomoto Bio‑Pharma Services, a leading provider of biopharmaceutical manufacturing services and platform technologies, have announced a research collaboration to expand access to Aji Bio‑Pharma's AJICAP™ site‑specific conjugation platform for NJ Bio's discovery‑stage and early development clients. This collaboration broadens NJ Bio's advanced antibody conjugation and linker capabilities, supporting the development of next‑generation antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) and other targeted therapeutics.

Why it matters

The collaboration allows NJ Bio to integrate the AJICAP™ platform into its discovery and development workflows, offering clients a robust and highly reproducible approach for site‑specific conjugation of cytotoxic and non‑cytotoxic payloads to antibodies. This strengthens NJ Bio's position as a comprehensive partner for biopharmaceutical companies seeking end‑to‑end support, from early drug design and discovery through preclinical development.

The details

Through the collaboration, NJ Bio will integrate the AJICAP™ platform into its discovery and development workflows, offering clients a robust and highly reproducible approach for site‑specific conjugation of cytotoxic and non‑cytotoxic payloads to antibodies. AJICAP™ enables precise chemical modification at defined lysine residues without the need for antibody engineering, preserving antibody structure and functionality while improving pharmacokinetics, therapeutic index, and overall developability. The platform supports a range of stable, hydrophilic linker systems and is readily incorporated into drug discovery and development programs.

  • The collaboration was announced on March 31, 2026.

The players

NJ Bio, Inc.

A leading provider of integrated drug discovery and development services headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey.

Ajinomoto Bio‑Pharma Services

A leading provider of biopharmaceutical manufacturing services and platform technologies, with sites in Belgium, India, Japan, and the United States.

AJICAP™

Aji Bio‑Pharma's site‑specific conjugation platform that enables precise chemical modification at defined lysine residues without the need for antibody engineering.

Julien Dugal-Tessier

The President and Chief Scientific Officer at NJ Bio.

Yasuyuki Otake

Corporate Executive, General Manager, Bio-Pharma Services Dept., Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

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What they’re saying

“Expanding our capabilities with AJICAP™ aligns strongly with NJ Bio's mission to deliver cutting-edge, high-value solutions that accelerate our clients' discovery programs.”

— Julien Dugal-Tessier, President and Chief Scientific Officer, NJ Bio

“AJICAP™ was developed to enable precise and scalable antibody conjugation, and we are excited to extend its reach through this collaboration with NJ Bio.”

— Yasuyuki Otake, Corporate Executive, General Manager, Bio-Pharma Services Dept., Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

What’s next

The collaboration will allow NJ Bio to immediately begin integrating the AJICAP™ platform into its discovery and development workflows, expanding the capabilities it can offer to its biopharmaceutical clients.

The takeaway

This partnership between NJ Bio and Ajinomoto Bio‑Pharma Services strengthens NJ Bio's position as a comprehensive provider of integrated drug discovery and development services, enhancing its ability to support the design and development of next-generation targeted therapies for patients.