Medicago and InterveXion Therapeutics Establish Alliance to Develop Antibody Therapeutics
Medicago and InterveXion Therapeutics, announced the formation of multi-year product co-development collaboration. The two companies will use Medicago's Proficia(TM) Protein Technology for the production of monoclonal antibodies therapeutics designed to treat drug abuse.
InterveXion has received a $3 million grant to conduct clinical trials for the first antibody treatment for addiction to the drug known as phencyclidine, or PCP. The business development grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides funding for five years to obtain Food and Drug Administration approval and conduct clinical trials on a protein-based therapy intended to provide detoxification and protection from PCP abuse. InterveXion will follow the PCP therapy with a similar therapy for the much larger methamphetamine abuse market.
Medicago will receive milestone payments from InterveXion to produce the PCP antibody for the completion of necessary clinical trials. This agreement will be expanded later this year with the addition of another antibody.
"We are delighted with this opportunity to collaborate with InterveXion. Drug abuse is one of the most serious health problems and has very few treatments. Producing the antibodies in plants can drastically reduce the commercial production costs for the treatment and make medications more affordable to the patients who need them. Our technology gives us the power to produce required quantities of the antibody with speed and cost advantages. We expect this collaboration to further validate the unique ability of our technology to expedite the drug development and product approval." said M. Andy Sheldon, president and chief executive officer of Medicago.
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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
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
