BioInvent and Cartela reach the first milestone in the development of drug to treat diseases of the joints
Lund, Sweden: An important pre-clinical milestone has been reached in the research collaboration between BioInvent International AB (SAX:BINV) and Cartela AB to develop an antibody-based drug to treat osteoarthritis. BioInvent will pay a success fee to Cartela according to the licence acquired in October 2003.
The collaboration between BioInvent and Cartela has in the first pre-clinical phase focused on the identification of antibody candidates that can restore the balance in the formation and the degeneration of cartilage in diseases of the joints as osteoarthritis. In a short period of time a large number of antibodies targeting Cartela's proprietary targets have been identified. Several of these have shown to be able to modulate the collagen synthesis in in vitro models. Collagen is the main component in the cartilage that breaks down when osteoarthritis is developed.
"The milestone is an important first step in the development of a new drug to treat osteoarthritis. It is our expectation that such a drug can improve the life quality for many people and thus give a significant market potential. We are very pleased with the collaboration with Cartela and the opportunity to commercially exploit Cartela's proprietary target proteins to develop an antibody-based drug," says Svein Mathisen, President and CEO of BioInvent.
Evy Lundgren Akerlund, CEO of Cartela, says:
"The development work to analyse the antibodies against the targets has proceeded as planned and we have identified candidates that now will be analysed in disease models. The collaboration with BioInvent has functioned very well and it feels really stimulating to take a step forward in our mutual project."
Other news from the department business & finance
Most read news
More news from our other portals
See the theme worlds for related content
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
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