London, UK, 19 March 2013: MRC Technology, a technology transfer organisation, announced today that it has successfully humanized an anti-CD146 monoclonal antibody. The project forms part of an on-going collaboration between MRC Technology and the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IBP CAS) to develop the antibody as a cancer therapeutic.
The cell adhesion molecule CD146 plays a critical role in tumour angiogenesis, an essential process for cancer development and metastasis. Researchers in the lab of Prof Xiyun Yan at IBP CAS developed an anti-CD146 monoclonal antibody that dramatically inhibits tumour angiogenesis, migration and invasion. Humanization of the antibody is an essential step in the development of anti-CD146 as a therapeutic.
Dave Tapolczay, MRC Techology’s CEO said: “The IBP CAS is one of the world’s leading academic research institutions and we are very pleased with the results of this collaboration. We are hopeful that the positive evaluation results for the humanized antibody will prove to be a significant milestone in cancer therapy and the fight against the disease.”
MRC Technology has humanized over 50 antibodies to date, including two marketed products, Tysabri (natalizumab) and Actemra (tocilizumab). A further six are in clinical trials (including vedolizumab) and two more in preclinical studies.