Abiogen Licenses RFB4 Antibody from Cancer Research Technology
London, UK: 11th July 2007; Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT), the oncology-focused development and commercialisation company, today announces it has agreed an exclusive worldwide licence with Abiogen Pharma S.p.A. (Italy). The agreement supersedes a previous licence with Abiogen and will enable Abiogen to continue to use the RFB4 antibody, in combination with key technology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, to develop its pipeline therapeutics.
Originally developed by researchers at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine (RFHSM) in London, RFHSM assigned its ownership rights in the RFB4 cell line to Imperial Cancer Research Technology (ICRT, now CRT). Under the terms of this new agreement, CRT will receive a signature fee, milestone payments and a percentage of future royalties.
RFB4 is an antibody against CD22, a B cell antigen expressed in approximately 70 per cent of B cell lymphomas and leukaemias. Because CD22 is not expressed on stem cells or in early B cell development, RFB4 has the potential to form part of therapies selectively targeted to CD22-expressing cancer cells.
Abiogen currently has two such therapies, incorporating RFB4 as the targeting tool, in Phase 1 clinical trials.
ENDS
For media enquiries please contact Michael Regnier in the CRT press office on 020 7061 8309 or, out of hours, the duty press officer on 07050 264059.
Notes to editors:
About Abiogen
Abiogen Pharma is a private Italian pharmaceutical company, founded in Pisa in 1997, involved in R&D, manufacturing and marketing. Abiogen has a prestigious R&D pipeline, has demonstrated significant skills in innovative compound development and is now broadening in to the biotechnological field.
Further information about Abiogen Pharma can be found at www.abiogen.com
About Cancer Research Technology
Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT) is a specialist commercialisation and development company, which aims to develop new discoveries in cancer research for the benefit of cancer patients. CRT works closely with leading international cancer scientists and their institutes to protect intellectual property arising from their research and to establish links with commercial partners. CRT facilitates the discovery, development and marketing of new cancer therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics and enabling technologies. CRT is wholly owned by Cancer Research UK, the largest independent funder of cancer research in the world. Further information about CRT can be found at www.CancerTechnology.com
About Cancer Research UK
Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to beat cancer.
- Cancer Research UK carries out world-class research to improve understanding of the disease and find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat different kinds of cancer.
- Cancer Research UK ensures that its findings are used to improve the lives of all cancer patients.
- Cancer Research UK helps people to understand cancer, the progress that is being made and the choices each person can make.
- Cancer Research UK works in partnership with others to achieve the greatest impact in the global fight against cancer.
For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 020 7009 8820 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org
|
