Centocor signs collaboration with GenPharm.PALO ALTO Palo Alto, city, California Palo Alto (păl`ō ăl`tō), city (1990 pop. 55,900), Santa Clara co., W Calif.; inc. 1894. Although primarily residential, Palo Alto has aerospace, electronics, and advanced research industries. , Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--March 3, 1997--GenPharm International Inc. announced today it has signed a Research and Commercialization Agreement with Centocor Centocor is a biotechnology company that was founded in Philadelphia in 1979 with an initial goal of developing new diagnostic assays using monoclonal antibody technology. Inc. The collaboration Working together on a project. See collaborative software. is based on GenPharm's HuMAb-Mouse(TM) strain, which contains functional human antibody genes. This proprietary transgenic trans·ge·nic adj. 1. Of, relating to, or being an organism whose genome has been altered by the transfer of a gene or genes from another species or breed: transgenic mice. 2. mouse strain enables high affinity completely human antibodies to be generated against a wide range of antigens Antigens Markers on the outside of such organisms as bacteria and viruses, which allow antibodies to recognize foreign invaders. Mentioned in: Measles, Q Fever, Severe Combined Immunodeficiency , including human antigens. The collaboration with Centocor is focused on developing completely human antibodies to several unnamed antigens. The Research and Commercialization Agreement provides Centocor with worldwide marketing and manufacturing rights to any of the antibodies that enter the clinic. In turn, the agreement provides for research and benchmark payments to be paid to GenPharm depending on the success of the program, as well as two equity investments. Payments to GenPharm could total $57 million. In addition, Centocor will pay royalties to GenPharm on any products resulting from the collaboration. "We are delighted to have this collaboration with Centocor," commented Jonathan MacQuitty, GenPharm's chief executive officer. "Centocor is currently the most successful company worldwide in commercializing antibodies as therapeutic agents. Their substantial capabilities in this area, combined with GenPharm's powerful HuMAb-Mouse system could lead to the first human antibodies from this collaboration entering the clinic in 1998." GenPharm International Inc. is the world leader in the development of human monoclonal antibodies This is a list of monoclonal antibodies, antibodies which are clones of a single parent cell. When used as medications, the generic names end in -mab (see "Nomenclature of monoclonal antibodies"). from transgenic mice for therapeutic and diagnostic uses. Centocor Inc. is a biotechnology company whose mission is to develop and commercialize novel therapeutic and diagnostic products and services that solve critical needs in human health care. Centocor concentrates on research and development, manufacturing and market development, with a primary technology focus on monoclonal antibodies and DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. based products. CONTACT: GenPharm International Inc., Palo Alto Jonathan MacQuitty, 415/842-6441 |
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