>>SAN DIEGO, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Applied Molecular Evolution, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMEV - news) announced today that it has initiated the optimization of an antibody against interleukin-9 (IL-9) for MedImmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: MEDI - news) as a part of the two companies' previously announced alliance to optimize four monoclonal antibodies. IL-9 is a cytokine that is over-expressed in asthma and other respiratory disorders. AME will apply its proprietary directed molecular evolution technology, the AMEsystem(TM), to create several new anti-IL-9 monoclonal antibody candidates for MedImmune.
``AME's latest optimization project with MedImmune represents ongoing validation of the power of our technology to enhance protein therapeutics,'' said William D. Huse, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and President of AME. ``Our work toward creating anti-IL-9 antibody candidates could lead to improved treatments for the wide-spread, debilitating symptoms of asthma.''
In February 1999, AME and MedImmune entered into a four-molecule strategic alliance whereby AME would apply its proprietary technology to create several next generation product candidates for MedImmune. To date, AME has created a second generation version of Vitaxin(TM) currently in Phase I clinical trials for cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, and a potential next generation version of MedImmune's Synagis® (palivizumab), referred to as Numax(TM), for the prevention of respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) infection.<<
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Cheers, Tuck |
