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Biotech / Medical : MEDX ... anybody following? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Icebrg who wrote (775)	12/16/2003 6:19:22 AM
From: Icebrg	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2240

Genmab, Sanquin To Collaborate On Hemophilia Treatment Tuesday December 16, 6:07 am ET COPENHAGEN -(Dow Jones)- Danish biotechnology company Genmab A/S said Tuesday that it has entered into a research collaboration with the Dutch not- for-profit organization Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation to develop a potential improvement in the treatment for hemophilia patients who are not able to respond adequately to standard therapy with factor VIII. Hemophiliacs suffer from excessive bleeding because their blood does not clot properly. They are generally treated with factor VIII that replaces the missing clotting product. However, approximately 38% of patients with hemophilia who have been treated with factor VIII, develop antibodies against it that make the treatment less effective. This serious complication can be life threatening and risk of death in these patients has been identified as five times greater than in patients who do not develop antibodies. Sanquin has discovered a method of preventing these inhibitory antibodies from binding to factor VIII. This method involves using new antibodies to block the sites where the inhibitory antibodies bind and thus allow factor VIII to continue working. Under the terms of the agreement, Genmab will support a limited research program at Sanquin to further validate this approach. The agreement includes an option for Genmab to license Sanquin's technology on specified terms. This agreement will not affect Genmabs financial guidance for 2003. "We are happy to expand our pipeline with this novel approach to treating hemophilia," said Lisa N. Drakeman, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab. " This agreement underlines our efforts to build a broad based antibody business." Sanquin has identified locations on factor VIII where the inhibitory antibodies bind. To prevent these antibodies from attaching to factor VIII, researchers cover these locations with antibody fragments to provide a blockade around factor VIII. Genmab may use the antibodies developed by Sanquin or create novel antibodies from the HuMAb-Mouse@ for future product development.