Amorfix and Aragen Bioscience enter into agreement to develop novel monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancers

31-May-2010 - Canada

Amorfix Life Sciences and Aragen Bioscience, Inc. announced that they have entered into an agreement to develop high-affinity monoclonal antibodies against a number of targets for cancer. Using its proprietary ProMIS(TM) computational platform discovery technology, Amorfix has identified several disease specific epitopes ("DSEs") on misfolded Fas receptor. Aragen will use those DSEs to generate highly specific monoclonal antibodies ("mAbs").

"Fas receptor is a well characterized target on cells that, when activated, causes programmed cell death, or apoptosis. Previous attempts to use Fas receptor as a therapeutic target for the development of new anti-cancer therapeutics have failed because its expression and function lead to undesirable side effects on normal cells. Using our ProMIS(TM) technology, we have identified DSEs on Fas receptor that will provide the required specificity for our mAbs to target and kill tumor cells while leaving normal cells intact," said Dr. Robert Gundel , Vice President of Research and Development at Amorfix. "We are very pleased to be collaborating with Aragen Bioscience on this important project in hopes of generating a highly effective and safe new therapeutic for the treatment of a variety of cancers."

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Topic world Antibodies

Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous

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Topic world Antibodies

Topic world Antibodies

Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous