Novozymes Biopharma and Upperton Limited Granted European Patent for Oncology Technology

20-Feb-2009 - United Kingdom

Novozymes Biopharma and Upperton Limited announced that the European Patent Office has confirmed the official Decision to Grant a European patent for their targeted drug delivery joint patent application (European patent No 1605979). The decision significantly strengthens the Upperton drug delivery technology portfolio and highlights the growing technology platform that it offers to partner companies. Upperton, along with its collaboration partner Novozymes Biopharma, is now seeking to exploit these technologies with established pharmaceutical companies.

The newly-granted patent describes methods of conjugating antibodies and other targeting agents to protein carriers by means of a heterobifunctional linker. In doing so, it is possible to deliver large quantities of drugs and other agents to selected sites in the body.

The initial focus for the technology will be in oncology. One such application involves using monoclonal antibodies to target recombinant albumin loaded with, for example, a chemotherapeutic agent to cancer cells. By using the carrier properties of albumin, it is possible to target significant quantities of chemotherapeutic agents or radioactive metal ions to cancer cells, whilst retaining the sensitive binding property of the targeting antibody. The result is a significant increase in the amount of therapeutic agent that can be delivered to its target compared to standard administration methods.

Upperton is now in the process of seeking development partners to exploit its drug delivery platform. It is anticipated that the Upperton technology platform will add value across a wide a range of pharmaceutical applications. The current focus is in oncology but other areas that are growing in interest include the delivery of nucleic acids for the rapidly growing siRNA market.

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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