Not exactly a validating deal for Xenerex, but at least it shows someone takes them seriously enough to have a look -
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Xenerex Biosciences, a subsidiary of AVANIR Pharmaceuticals (Amex: AVN - news), announced today that it has entered into a research collaboration agreement to generate fully human antibodies for DNAX Research Inc. of Palo Alto, California. DNAX Research is Schering-Plough Corporation's (NYSE: SGP - news) biotechnology center for immunology and molecular biology. The research agreement provides for Xenerex to generate fully human monoclonal antibodies to two target antigens provided by DNAX, which will then evaluate the antibodies for potential development as therapies for human diseases.
Under terms of the agreement, Xenerex will receive research fees for the use of its proprietary monoclonal antibody technology to generate antibodies to the antigen targets. The agreement provides DNAX with an option to enter into a commercial license agreement that could provide Xenerex with additional milestone payments and royalties on future product sales resulting from the collaboration. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
``Our collaboration with DNAX illustrates the growing interest of leading pharmaceutical companies in the potential capabilities of our proprietary human antibody technology,'' said J. David Hansen, President and Chief Operating Officer of Xenerex Biosciences. ``The collaboration provides an important opportunity for us to further demonstrate the viability of our technology and the successful commercialization of our platform for application in multiple diseases.''
Xenerex Biosciences has developed proprietary platform technology that is capable of generating fully human antibodies to multiple targets, including human targets, and is building a portfolio of antibody product candidates through agreements and licenses with biopharmaceutical companies. The Xenerex technology utilizes human immune system cells engrafted into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, which do not have their native immune system. The mice are immunized with the target antigen and respond by creating fully human antibodies, which the company evaluates for optimum antibody characteristics.
``The establishment of research collaborations that utilize our antibody generation expertise is a key element of AVANIR's development strategy and growth plan,'' said AVANIR's President and Chief Executive Officer Gerald J. Yakatan, Ph.D. ``This research collaboration with the DNAX subsidiary of the Schering-Plough Corporation is a measure of significant progress for the Company and represents a prominent milestone for Xenerex.''
DNAX is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Schering-Plough Corporation of Kenilworth, New Jersey, a research-based company engaged in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products worldwide.
Xenerex, a subsidiary of AVANIR Pharmaceuticals, is a biopharmaceutical company with a customer-focused mission to enable partner companies to develop and commercialize completely human antibody products. The company's website is xenerex.com... |
