LONDON and GÖTTINGEN, Germany, January 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Reference MRCT: MRCT120110
Georg-August-University Göttingen, University of Regensburg and MRC Technology (MRCT) have signed exclusive license agreements through MBM ScienceBridge GmbH and in agreement with Bayerische Patentallianz GmbH, for the development of a novel therapy of inflammatory and immune diseases based on the depletion of inflammatory monocytes. The first targets will be rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS).
MBM ScienceBridge GmbH, the technology transfer organization of the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, successfully negotiated a license agreement between the University of Göttingen, the University of Regensburg and the Medical Research Council Technology (MRCT). Scientists at the Universities of Regensburg and of Göttingen around Prof. Dr. M. Mack, Prof. Dr. M. Prinz, Prof. Dr. W. Brück and Dr. A. Mildner developed a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of RA and MS based on a panel of unique antibodies.
The collaboration between these academic technology transfer offices will enable MBM ScienceBridge GmbH to access the world-class antibody humanization expertise of MRCT's Centre for Therapeutics Discovery and the work of its Therapeutic Antibody Group, led by Dr Tarran Jones. Once again this demonstrates MRCT's world-leading capability to take lab tool compounds and turn them into clinical candidates, which will then be licensed to the Pharmaceutical and biotech industry.
Dr Dave Tapolczay, CEO of MRCT, said, this licensing deal is just one example of the innovative ways that MRCT is now exploiting both its antibody humanization and drug discovery capabilities. We can collaborate with other technology transfer organizations, on a shared risk basis, to develop novel antibodies and targets with therapeutic potential. When the resulting clinical candidate is subsequently licensed, an activity MRCT has proven itself very successful in achieving, both parties will not only accomplish their translational research aims, but also share in its commercial success going forward.
MRCT receives an exclusive Worldwide license to the related IP rights of the Universities. MRCT as well as both Universities through the MBM ScienceBridge GmbH will then receive downstream payments dependent on successful development and out-licensing of the antibody. This income will be used for further research within the organisations.
Notes to Editors
About Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis
The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis ranges from 0.24 % to 1.0 % among the populations of the seven major markets of USA, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Italy Spain. Revenue forecast for these markets are estimated at US$400m for 2010, and US$800m for 2015. The prevalence of multiple sclerosis varies widely by geographic region. Among the major markets, it ranges from a high of approximately 170 per 100,000 in the UK to a low of approximately 2.5 per 100,000 in Japan. The multiple sclerosis market expands by 20% per year to an estimated $3bn, making it one of the fastest growing central nervous system therapy areas.
About MBM ScienceBridge GmbH
The MBM ScienceBridge GmbH is a fully owned subsidiary of the University of Göttingen and acts on its behalf as a technology transfer interface to companies around the world. The IP portfolio managed by MBM ScienceBridge covers innovation in the areas of Life Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Agriculture and Medical Technologies.
The Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Universitätsmedizin, Germany, was founded in 1737 and in the spirit of the enlightenment, has laid the foundation - both in the natural sciences and humanities, for the present day University's excellent reputation.
About Bayerische Patentallianz GmbH
Bayerische Patentallianz GmbH assesses and markets the inventions of more than 16,000 researchers in the German Federal State of Bavaria. With its interdisciplinary team composed of scientists and economic experts it attends to universities and universities of applied sciences in Bavaria when it comes to subjects concerning inventions, patents and licenses. Bayerische Patentallianz GmbH is a company owned by Universität Bayern e.V. and Hochschule Bayern e.V.
About Medical Research Council Technology (MRCT)
MRCT is the exclusive commercialisation agent for the UK Medical Research Council, working to translate cutting edge scientific discoveries into commercial products. MRCT bridges the gap between innovative basic science and making medicine. MRCT works to provide drug-like candidate molecules to innovative new drug targets, and to translate innovative antibody-dased drug targets into potent and selective therapeutic antibody canditates giving pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies new starting points for drug discovery and development, based on MRC advances in science. MRCT's Therapeutic Antibody Group scientists have a proven track record of success in antibody humanization which extends over 20 years and has produced 10 clinical candidates and two regulatory approved humanized antibodies: Elan/Biogen Idec's Tysabri(R) and Chugai/Roche's Actemra(R). http://www.mrctechnology.org
SOURCE: Medical Research Council Technology (MRCT)
CONTACT: Contact Information: Medical Research Council Technology (MRCT):Jan Coates, Business Development Officer, MRC Technology, E-mail:jan.coates@tech.mrc.ac.uk, Phone: +44(0)20-8906-7183; Contact:http://www.sciencebridge.de, info@sciencebridge.de,+49-551-30724151.
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