Biovation And Micromet Form Collaboration To Design Novel Non-Immunogenic Protein Therapeutics
According to Dr. Frank Carr, President and Chief Executive Officer of Biovation, "We are delighted to be collaborating with Micromet, especially with its highly innovative technology for harnessing the immune system to fight disease. We look forward to being part of this exciting innovation."
"Incorporating Biovation's DeImmunisation technology will further enhance the clinical potential of our novel protein therapeutics by decreasing their potential immunogenicity and thereby improving pharmacological properties," Dr. Christian Itin, Vice President, Business and Corporate Development at Micromet commented.
DeImmunisation increases the clinical potential of antibody and protein therapeutics by eliminating/reducing the T-cell response caused when the therapeutic molecule is recognised as foreign by the patient's immune system. The technology is based on ‘peptide threading' and works by identifying potential T-cell epitopes on the therapeutic antibody or protein. T-cell epitopes are sites on the therapeutic molecule which can bind to MHC class II, triggering a T-cell mediated immune response. Once this potentially immunogenic region of the antibody is identified, it is removed from the molecule by single amino acid substitutions, thus eliminating/reducing the therapeutic antibody or protein's immunogenicity and increasing its safety. This can be done without compromise to efficacy.
Background on Biovation Ltd.
Biovation is a UK-based antibody and protein engineering company which uses its proprietary DeImmunisation technology to take its partners' therapeutics through the barriers of immunogenic side effects. All antibodies, even humanised and fully human, can potentially cause an adverse immune response when administered to patients. DeImmunisation reduces that risk by identifying and eliminating potentially immunogenic sequences of the therapeutic molecule, while retaining efficacy. Since 1998, Biovation has established collaborations with 16 companies in the US, Europe, Asia and Australasia. The five collaborations formed since Biovation was acquired by Merck KGaA in October 2000 are with: Procyon Biopharma (Canada) and Viragen Ltd. (Scotland) in November, Epicyte Pharmaceuticals Inc. (USA) in February, and Corixa Corp.(USA) and an other undisclosed US biotech firm in May. In a collaboration with Cornell University, Biovation has created a DeImmunised antibody for the treatment of prostate cancer, which has been shown to be safe in Phase I clinical trials. Biovation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck KGaA and operates as an independent company within the Merck group in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Additional information about Biovation is available at www.biovation.co.uk
Background on Micromet AG
Micromet AG, a privately held, Munich-based biotechnology company, designs and develops novel antibody-based drugs for treatment of cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory disease. The Company has established the BiTEÔ technology ("Bispecific T cell engagers"), a unique drug format that leverages the outstanding cytotoxic potential of T-cells, the most powerful ‘killer cells' of the human immune system. Micromet's pipeline of drug candidates includes BiTEÔ molecules as well as fully human antibodies, with two products now approaching clinical Phase I trials. The Company has integrated drug development capabilities. Micromet is funded by leading international life science investors, with a cumulative financing volume of 60,5 Mio Euro.
Additional information about Micromet is available at www.micromet.de.
Background on Merck KgaA
Headquartered in Darmstadt/Germany, the Merck Group generated more than EUR 6.7 billion in 2000 in the fields of Pharmaceuticals, Specialty Chemicals, Lab Products and Lab Distribution. Founded in 1668, the Merck Group is represented today by more than 200 operating companies in 52 countries and employs 34,300 people world-wide. The company groups its operating activities under Merck KGaA, in which E. Merck, as a general partner, holds the Merck family's 74 percent equity interest in Merck KGaA. The Merck Group strongly believes that promotion of its employees' self-initiative and self-responsibility, application-oriented research and development and close customer relationships in the markets are the keys to long-term corporate success.
Additional information about Merck KGaA is available at www.merck.de