First agonist Humab into clinicals ?
MELBOURN, England, and ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambridge Antibody Technology (Nasdaq: CATG; London: CAT) and Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI - news) today announced that Human Genome Sciences has exercised an option to enter into an exclusive development partnership on a human monoclonal antibody to TRAIL Receptor 1 (TRAIL-R1). The antibody is being evaluated as an anticancer drug by Human Genome Sciences. TRAIL Receptor 1, which was discovered by Human Genome Sciences, is preferentially expressed on many solid tumors.
Human Genome Sciences and CAT announced a broad collaboration and product development alliance in March 2000. Under the terms of this agreement, Human Genome Sciences is to develop and sell the TRAIL-R1 antibody. CAT is entitled to receive license fees, clinical development milestones and royalties on product sales from Human Genome Sciences.
Dr. David Chiswell, CAT's Chief Executive Officer, commented, ``We are delighted about the rapid progress that has been made with this collaboration with Human Genome Sciences, and with this program in particular. The TRAIL-R1 antibody is the first antibody product candidate that has been isolated directly from CAT's libraries without needing further optimisation, and we isolated and delivered this antibody to Human Genome Sciences in just six months. Another significant feature of this antibody is that it is directed to a cell-surface receptor protein; all the CAT-derived antibody product candidates already in clinical trials are directed to the soluble cytokine class of proteins.''
William A. Haseltine, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Human Genome Sciences, said, ``The TRAIL-R1 antibody is the second antibody drug candidate resulting from our collaboration with Cambridge Antibody Technology for which we have taken an exclusive option. The first was LymphoStat-B(TM), now approved for Phase 1 clinical trials in autoimmune diseases. Our two groups have established a very productive working relationship.''
TRAIL Receptor 1 is a so-called ``death receptor.'' It is a member of the tumor necrosis family of receptors. Binding of the natural ligand TRAIL to this receptor triggers cell death. The new antibody mimics the effect of TRAIL and triggers the death of cells that express TRAIL Receptor 1. The antibody is expected to have antitumor properties as many tumors express the receptor... |
