XOMA Licenses BCE Technology for Recombinant Protein Production to Wyeth

12-Sep-2005

XOMA Ltd. announced that it has granted Wyeth a non-exclusive, worldwide license for XOMA's Expression technology. Under the agreement, Wyeth receives a license to use XOMA's technology for the development and production of recombinant proteins. Details of the initial payment and future contingent payments to XOMA were not disclosed.

XOMA scientists were the first to demonstrate the secretion of antibody domains directly from the bacterial cells as fully functional, properly folded molecules. XOMA has received ten U.S. patents to date relating to aspects of its BCE system, including six patents that broadly cover the secretion of immunoglobulins from bacteria, including antibody fragments such as Fab and single-chain antibodies. Corresponding foreign patents have also been granted. XOMA's patent estate is applicable to the practice of antibody phage display and other antibody screening applications.

Currently, there are two antibody products in late-stage clinical testing that are manufactured using XOMA's BCE technologies. These are Celltech Group plc's CIMZIA(TM) (certolizumab pegol, CDP-870) anti-TNF alpha antibody fragment, in development for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Crohn's Disease, and Genentech Inc.'s LucentisTM (ranibizumab) antibody fragment to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). There are many additional products in earlier stages of development. To date, XOMA has granted bacterial cell expression licenses to approximately 35 companies.

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/48854/xoma-licenses-bce-technology-for-recombinant-protein-production-to-wyeth.html