Collaboration between Georg-August-University Göttingen, Universitätsmedizin, the University of Regensburg and MRCT

London, UK, Göttingen, Germany, 12th January 2010 – 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.