Abgenix kooperiert mit MDS Proteonomics - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

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Einen ganzen Strauß von neuen Angriffspunkten (Targets) für Medikamente haben Abgenix und MDS Proteonomics im Visier: Bis zu 150 solcher Zielstrukturen für auf Antikörpern basierende Medikamentenkandidaten wollen die beiden Partner identifizieren. Abgenix wird diese entweder allein oder gemeinschaftlich mit MDS weiter entwickeln und kommerzialisieren. Das Unternehmen bringt seine Antikörper-Technologie in die Partnerschaft ein.

MDS hat mit „proteonomics“ das entscheidende Wort für das eigene Know-How bereits im Firmennamen: Die Company ist auf die Erforschung von Proteinen und ihrer Wechselwirkungen mit den Genen bzw. anderen Proteinen fokussiert.

Vom Verständnis der jeweiligen Interaktionen erhoffen sich Wissenschaftler nachhaltige Aufschlüsse über die Funktionen der jeweiligen Elemente für die Prozesse im menschlichen Körper. Auf der Basis diese Wissens sollen neuartige, hochwirksame Therapieformen entwickelt werden.

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06-29-2001 08:00:32 AM MDS Proteomics and Abgenix Announce Exclusive Agreement to Develop Proteomic-Based Antibody Therapies Business Editors
TORONTO and FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 29, 2001-Companies to Jointly Develop Antibody Therapies that Target Wide Range of Diseases MDS Proteomics, a leading proteomics-based drug discovery company,and Abgenix, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABGX), an antibody-based biopharmaceutical company, today announced a collaboration to develop and commercialize
antibody drugs. Leveraging MDS Proteomics` proprietary proteomics systems and Abgenix` human antibody technologies, the companies will identify up to 150 targets for generation of human therapeutic antibody candidates intended for further development and eventual treatment for a broad range of complex diseases. Abgenix will collaborate with MDS Proteomics to complement its current drug target capabilities. MDS Proteomics` functional approach to proteomics is designed to accelerate therapeutic development by combining protein pathway biology, ultra-sensitive mass spectrometry analysis and high performance super-computing to yield the most relevant targets for designing new medicines. Once high quality targets are identified by MDS Proteomics, Abgenix, independently or
jointly with MDS Proteomics, will develop and commercialize the proteomics-derived antibody therapies. Both companies will receive reciprocal milestone and royalty payments for products resulting from this development alliance. Separately, Abgenix entered into an agreement with MDS Proteomics to purchase $15 million (USD) of MDS Proteomics common stock. The Abgenix investment in MDS Proteomics
follows an investment made earlier this year by IBM Life Sciences. "This alliance brings two leaders in their respective fields together with a common purpose, to speed the development of new drugs for treating some of the major diseases plaguing our society today," said Frank Gleeson, president and chief executive officer of MDS Proteomics. "Combining our expertise and approach to identifying high quality targets with Abgenix` superior antibody technology, we will establish a powerful platform for producing antibody therapies from proteomics." "We are excited to collaborate with MDS Proteomics, a leading proteomics company, in a large-scale effort to help change the nature of the drug development process," said R. Scott Greer, chairman and chief executive officer of Abgenix. "With MDS Proteomics` ability to drill down into each target area through the use of proteomics, coupled with our leading technology for developing fully human
monoclonal antibody therapies, we hope to build a comprehensive platform for producing proteomic-based antibody therapies."
About Proteomics Proteins regulate the activities of cells, tissues and organs. Interactions among proteins can trigger chemical reactions within cells that play a key role in diseases and ailments such as cancer, AIDS and depression. The emerging field of proteomics - the study of protein location, interaction, structure and function - aims to
identify and characterize the proteins present in normal and diseased biological samples. Abnormalities in protein production or function have been connected to many diseases and health conditions, so the ability to modulate proteins represents an attractive target for drug design.
About Antibodies Antibodies are naturally occurring proteins used by the body`s immune system to combat many diseases. As therapeutic products, antibodies have several potential advantages over other therapies. The highly specific interaction between an antibody and its target may,
for example, reduce unwanted side effects that may occur with other therapies. Fully human antibodies are desirable because they avoid the risk of rejection present with mouse or partial mouse antibodies. About Abgenix, Inc.
Abgenix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of fully human monoclonal antibody therapies for a variety of diseases. The company`s antibody technology platform, which includes XenoMax(TM) technology, enables the rapid generation and selection of high affinity, fully human antibody product candidates to essentially any disease target appropriate for antibody
therapy. Abgenix leverages its leadership position in human antibody technologies by building a large and diversified product portfolio through the establishment of licensing arrangements with multiple pharmaceutical, biotechnology and genomics companies and through the development of its own internal proprietary products. For more information on Abgenix, visit the company`s website at
www.abgenix.com.