Genmab A/S and Pepscan today announced the start of a research collaboration aimed at identifying fully human monoclonal antibodies against intractable disease targets
COPENHAGEN, Denmark and LELYSTAD, The Netherlands | March 3, 2008 | Genmab A/S (OMX: GEN) and Pepscan today announced the start of a research collaboration aimed at identifying fully human monoclonal antibodies against intractable disease targets. Intractable targets include those that are difficult to address using commonly available technologies but are highly desirable for targeting with monoclonal antibodies. These difficulties can for example be due to the fact that target proteins are buried to a large extent very close to the cell surface or in the cell membrane or due to poor immunogenicity of the protein or desirable epitopes.
In the collaboration, Pepscan will use its proprietary CLIPS™ technology to identify functional mimics of the essential parts of such intractable targets. These mimics will be used by Genmab to create and select unique therapeutic antibodies using its fully human monoclonal antibody technology.
"As part of our efforts to expand Genmab’s pipeline, we continually evaluate disease targets which may effectively be addressed with monoclonal antibodies," said Lisa N. Drakeman Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab. "This research collaboration with Pepscan will allow us to include in our evaluations a wider variety of disease targets that may not be easily addressed using standard treatments."
Joost van Bree, CEO of Pepscan Therapeutics comments: "monoclonal antibodies against intractable targets are a significant unmet need. The combination of Pepscan CLIPS™ protein mimicry platform with Genmab’s ability to generate fully human monoclonals will enable the partners to develop innovative products for poorly served indications."
About Pepscan Therapeutics
Pepscan Therapeutics is a product focused immunotherapy company based in the Netherlands. It has developed a pipeline of therapeutic vaccine and antibody programs of which the most advanced is in Phase II clinical testing. Pepscan’s proprietary CLIPS™ technology has been proven to yield functional antibodies reactive with a range of complex proteins, including GPCRs.
About CLIPS™ Technology
Chemically Linked Immunogenic Peptides on Scaffolds (CLIPS™) is a technology to present one or more peptides in a structurally constrained configuration. These molecules behave as functional mimics of complex protein domains that serve as superior immunogens in the induction and selection of antibodies against disease relevant protein targets. This is especially valuable in the case of proteins that are inaccessible as recombinant proteins (e.g. GPCRs, ion channels, patented proteins).
Further information is available at http://www.pepscan.com
SOURCE: GENMAB
Post Views: 101
Genmab A/S and Pepscan today announced the start of a research collaboration aimed at identifying fully human monoclonal antibodies against intractable disease targets
COPENHAGEN, Denmark and LELYSTAD, The Netherlands | March 3, 2008 | Genmab A/S (OMX: GEN) and Pepscan today announced the start of a research collaboration aimed at identifying fully human monoclonal antibodies against intractable disease targets. Intractable targets include those that are difficult to address using commonly available technologies but are highly desirable for targeting with monoclonal antibodies. These difficulties can for example be due to the fact that target proteins are buried to a large extent very close to the cell surface or in the cell membrane or due to poor immunogenicity of the protein or desirable epitopes.
In the collaboration, Pepscan will use its proprietary CLIPS™ technology to identify functional mimics of the essential parts of such intractable targets. These mimics will be used by Genmab to create and select unique therapeutic antibodies using its fully human monoclonal antibody technology.
"As part of our efforts to expand Genmab’s pipeline, we continually evaluate disease targets which may effectively be addressed with monoclonal antibodies," said Lisa N. Drakeman Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab. "This research collaboration with Pepscan will allow us to include in our evaluations a wider variety of disease targets that may not be easily addressed using standard treatments."
Joost van Bree, CEO of Pepscan Therapeutics comments: "monoclonal antibodies against intractable targets are a significant unmet need. The combination of Pepscan CLIPS™ protein mimicry platform with Genmab’s ability to generate fully human monoclonals will enable the partners to develop innovative products for poorly served indications."
About Pepscan Therapeutics
Pepscan Therapeutics is a product focused immunotherapy company based in the Netherlands. It has developed a pipeline of therapeutic vaccine and antibody programs of which the most advanced is in Phase II clinical testing. Pepscan’s proprietary CLIPS™ technology has been proven to yield functional antibodies reactive with a range of complex proteins, including GPCRs.
About CLIPS™ Technology
Chemically Linked Immunogenic Peptides on Scaffolds (CLIPS™) is a technology to present one or more peptides in a structurally constrained configuration. These molecules behave as functional mimics of complex protein domains that serve as superior immunogens in the induction and selection of antibodies against disease relevant protein targets. This is especially valuable in the case of proteins that are inaccessible as recombinant proteins (e.g. GPCRs, ion channels, patented proteins).
Further information is available at http://www.pepscan.com
SOURCE: GENMAB
Post Views: 101
