Avidex and Active Biotech enter collaboration to develop fusion proteins combining monoclonal mTCRs with superantigens
Avidex and Active Biotech have formed a collaboration to create targeted immunotherapeutics for cancer by bringing together the two companies' most powerful protein molecule platforms. Under the agreement Active Biotech will bring the substantial intellectual property, know how and clinical experience it has gained on its proprietary superantigen protein. Avidex brings its platform of tumour antigen-specific human monoclonal T cell receptors (mTCRs).
Under this collaboration the two companies will combine the superantigen with the mTCR as a novel fusion protein. If successful, this fusion protein could unite the targeting specificity of the mTCR with the proven ability of the superantigen to stimulate T cells to kill the target cancer cells. The two companies will work together to make and test these fusion proteins with the intention of creating unique and potent anti-cancer agents.
Tomas Leanderson, Chief Scientific Officer of Active Biotech said, "TTS-CD3, our 5T4 antibody-superantigen fusion protein, is progressing well in its clinical trials. We are already getting promising results from initial trials in patients with some of the most serious of cancers including renal cancer. By forming this collaboration with Avidex we are now able to maximise the value of our technology by extending the tumour antigens that can be targeted".
Neill MacKenzie, Avidex' Chief Business Officer commented "Active Biotech is a perfect partner for Avidex on this programme. The two technologies are clearly complementary and also the two technical teams have synergistic skills and resources that, we hope, will enable this programme to progress rapidly. We have already produced an mTCR fused to the cytokine, IL-2, so we are confident in being able to produce these new fusion proteins".
Lund, May 13, 2004 Active Biotech AB
Sven Andréasson President & CEO
About Avidex Limited Avidex is a private biotechnology company based in Oxford, and is focused on the development of therapeutics for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Avidex was formed in 1999 as a spin out from Oxford University. The company employs 52 staff and is based in Milton Park, near Oxford, UK. The company has raised £23.2 million to date, with investors including Advent Venture Partners, Oxford Technology Venture Capital Trust plc and Quester. The Company has two key programmes, in the fields of T-cell receptors and CD80 inhibitors.
For further information about Avidex, please visit www.avidex.com.
About Active Biotech AB Active Biotech AB is a biotechnology company focusing on research in and development of pharmaceuticals. Active Biotech has a strong R&D portfolio and pipeline products with focus primarily on autoimmune/inflammatory diseases and cancer. Most advanced projects include orally administered small molecules with unique immunomodulatory properties that can be used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases (SAIK), as well as a novel concept for use in cancer immunotherapy (TTS).
For further information about Active Biotech, please visit www.activebiotech.com. |
