Crucell and Applied Molecular Evolution Sign PER.C6(TM) Antibody Production Agreement
LEIDEN, Netherlands, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dutch antibody and vaccine company Crucell N.V. (Euronext, Nasdaq: CRXL) and San Diego-based Applied Molecular Evolution, Inc. (AME) (Nasdaq: AMEV - News) announced today that they have signed a non-exclusive, worldwide PER.C6(TM) research license agreement allowing AME to evaluate the production of monoclonal antibodies on the PER.C6(TM) human cell line. AME also has an option for a non-exclusive, worldwide commercial product license to manufacture one or more specified monoclonal antibody products on the PER.C6(TM) cell line.
Additionally, Crucell has granted AME the right to enter into collaborations with third parties for the research and development of monoclonal antibody products produced through AME programs on the PER.C6(TM) cell line. Under the terms of the agreement, Crucell will receive an upfront payment, annual maintenance fees and royalties on future sales of any products manufactured on the PER.C6(TM) cell line. Further financial details were not disclosed.
"AME's capabilities are significantly broadened by access to Crucell's PER.C6(TM) system which will enable the expression of our optimized antibodies in a human cell line," stated William D. Huse, M.D., Ph.D., President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of AME. "The combination of AME's proprietary frameworks(TM) technology, which utilizes human germ-line antibody frameworks, and the PER.C6(TM) system will enable us to produce optimized monoclonal antibodies with human glycosylation patterns, offering potential improvements in safety and efficacy."
"This licensing agreement with AME is significant to Crucell because AME is recognized as a biotechnology company with expertise in optimizing existing monoclonal antibody therapeutics and developing novel antibodies," said Ronald H.P. Brus, M.D., Chief Business Officer of Crucell. "Additionally, it confirms the growing interest in the market for selecting PER.C6(TM) as a robust, scalable cell line for monoclonal antibody production. Crucell's agreement with AME is the third PER.C6(TM) licensing agreement this year since the launch of PER.C6(TM) as a protein production platform." |
