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MRCT to humanize antibody to treat AD

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London, UK, 2nd October, 2006 – MRC Technology (London, UK) and BioArctic Neuroscience (Stockholm, Sweden) announced today that they had signed a collaborative research agreement to humanise a mouse antibody under development with BioArctic for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The Therapeutic Antibody Group (TAG) at MRCT will use its proprietary humanisation technology to generate the humanised clinical candidate. BioArctic will pay MRCT an up-front fee, development milestones, and royalties. BioArctic will retain all development and commercialization rights to the antibody. Additional financial terms were not disclosed.

TAG has a proven track record of success in antibody humanisation which extends over 18 years and encompasses around 30 successfully humanised antibodies,” said Dr. Tarran Jones, Director of TAG. “Eight of these humanised antibodies have progressed to the clinic and two, Elan/Biogen Idec’s Tysabri and Chugai/Roche’s Actemra, have gone on to achieve market approval. We are looking forward to applying our expertise in collaboration with BioArctic to humanise their monoclonal antibody which addresses such an important disease area.”

“BioArctic has developed a unique amyloid beta (Aβ) conformational specific antibody (LSAP™) for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. This antibody targets a newly discovered toxic form of amyloid beta (Aβ) protein called protofibrils that initiates and drives the disease. The antibody will provide an opportunity for early treatment of the disease of significant advantage to the patient. BioArctic is developing the antibody together with Eisai Inc., Japan, a company that developed and markets the world’s leading drug, Aricept® for Alzheimer’s disease. We are very happy to collaborate with MRC Technology and to have access to their proprietary technology platform and long experience in the antibody humanisation field,” said Pär Gellerfors, CEO of BioArctic.