Celldex Therapeutics today announced that it has entered into an Exclusive Patent and Know-How License Agreement with the University of Southampton, UK, to develop human antibodies towards CD27, a potentially important target for immunotherapy of various cancers
NEEDHAM, MA, USA | November 11, 2008 | Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLDX) today announced that it has entered into an Exclusive Patent and Know-How License Agreement with the University of Southampton, UK, to develop human antibodies towards CD27, a potentially important target for immunotherapy of various cancers. In pre-clinical models, antibodies to CD27 have been shown to mediate anti-tumor effects alone, and may be particularly effective in combination with other immunotherapies. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
"CD27 is a critical molecule in the activation pathway of lymphocytes. It is downstream from CD40, and may provide a novel way to regulate the immune responses," said Tibor Keler, Ph.D., Celldex’s Chief Scientific Officer. "We have tremendous antibody development and translational expertise at Celldex and we are excited to add this therapeutic antibody target to our portfolio."
"This antibody program brings more opportunity to our pipeline, and allows us to further demonstrate our development capabilities," added Anthony S. Marucci, President and Chief Executive Officer of Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. "We will continue to pursue additional partnerships with both biopharmaceutical companies and other academic institutions to exploit our ability to generate fully-human antibodies, and look forward to moving a number of programs into the clinic in the next few years."
"We are excited to be working with Celldex Therapeutic, Inc. on this important immunoregulatory molecule," said Professor Martin Glennie, PhD, Director of Cancer Sciences, Tenovus Research Laboratory, Southampton. "Engaging CD27 with the appropriate monoclonal antibody has proven highly effective at promoting anti-cancer immunity and we look forward to translating these results to patients."
Professor Glennie was funded by UK cancer charity Tenovus for this work.
About Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.
Celldex Therapeutics is an integrated biopharmaceutical company that applies its comprehensive Precision Targeted Immunotherapy Platform to generate a pipeline of candidates to treat cancer and other difficult-to-treat diseases. Celldex’s immunotherapy platform includes a complementary portfolio of monoclonal antibodies, antibody-targeted vaccines and immunomodulators to create novel disease-specific drug candidates. For more information, please visit http://www.celldextherapeutics.com.
About the University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a leading UK teaching and research institution with a global reputation for leading-edge research and scholarship across a wide range of subjects in engineering, science, social sciences, health and humanities.
With over 22,000 students, around 5000 staff, and an annual turnover of over GBP 350 million, the University of Southampton is acknowledged as one of the country’s top institutions for medicine, engineering, and computer science. The University is a Cancer Research UK/Department of Health Centre for Experimental Cancer Medicine.
We combine academic excellence with an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to research, supporting a culture that engages and challenges students and staff in their pursuit of learning.
The University is also home to a number of world-leading research centres, including the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, the Optoelectronics Research Centre, the Centre for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, the Mountbatten Centre for International Studies and the Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute.
SOURCE: Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.
Post Views: 83
Celldex Therapeutics today announced that it has entered into an Exclusive Patent and Know-How License Agreement with the University of Southampton, UK, to develop human antibodies towards CD27, a potentially important target for immunotherapy of various cancers
NEEDHAM, MA, USA | November 11, 2008 | Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLDX) today announced that it has entered into an Exclusive Patent and Know-How License Agreement with the University of Southampton, UK, to develop human antibodies towards CD27, a potentially important target for immunotherapy of various cancers. In pre-clinical models, antibodies to CD27 have been shown to mediate anti-tumor effects alone, and may be particularly effective in combination with other immunotherapies. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
"CD27 is a critical molecule in the activation pathway of lymphocytes. It is downstream from CD40, and may provide a novel way to regulate the immune responses," said Tibor Keler, Ph.D., Celldex’s Chief Scientific Officer. "We have tremendous antibody development and translational expertise at Celldex and we are excited to add this therapeutic antibody target to our portfolio."
"This antibody program brings more opportunity to our pipeline, and allows us to further demonstrate our development capabilities," added Anthony S. Marucci, President and Chief Executive Officer of Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. "We will continue to pursue additional partnerships with both biopharmaceutical companies and other academic institutions to exploit our ability to generate fully-human antibodies, and look forward to moving a number of programs into the clinic in the next few years."
"We are excited to be working with Celldex Therapeutic, Inc. on this important immunoregulatory molecule," said Professor Martin Glennie, PhD, Director of Cancer Sciences, Tenovus Research Laboratory, Southampton. "Engaging CD27 with the appropriate monoclonal antibody has proven highly effective at promoting anti-cancer immunity and we look forward to translating these results to patients."
Professor Glennie was funded by UK cancer charity Tenovus for this work.
About Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.
Celldex Therapeutics is an integrated biopharmaceutical company that applies its comprehensive Precision Targeted Immunotherapy Platform to generate a pipeline of candidates to treat cancer and other difficult-to-treat diseases. Celldex’s immunotherapy platform includes a complementary portfolio of monoclonal antibodies, antibody-targeted vaccines and immunomodulators to create novel disease-specific drug candidates. For more information, please visit http://www.celldextherapeutics.com.
About the University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a leading UK teaching and research institution with a global reputation for leading-edge research and scholarship across a wide range of subjects in engineering, science, social sciences, health and humanities.
With over 22,000 students, around 5000 staff, and an annual turnover of over GBP 350 million, the University of Southampton is acknowledged as one of the country’s top institutions for medicine, engineering, and computer science. The University is a Cancer Research UK/Department of Health Centre for Experimental Cancer Medicine.
We combine academic excellence with an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to research, supporting a culture that engages and challenges students and staff in their pursuit of learning.
The University is also home to a number of world-leading research centres, including the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, the Optoelectronics Research Centre, the Centre for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, the Mountbatten Centre for International Studies and the Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute.
SOURCE: Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.
Post Views: 83
