Georg-August-University Göttingen, Universitätsmedizin and MRC Technology collaborate to develop new therapy for neurodegenerative diseases

London, UK, Göttingen, Germany, 28 July 2015 – Georg-August-University Göttingen (UMG) and MRC Technology (MRCT), a UK medical research charity, have signed a collaboration agreement for the development of a novel therapy for neurodegenerative diseases based on an antibody that targets particular forms of amyloid beta peptides, amyloid beta 4-x.  The aim is to develop a new antibody therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

The collaboration agreement, negotiated between MBM ScienceBridge GmbH, the technology transfer organisation of the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, and MRCT, will enable UMG 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. David Matthews. The agreement capitalises on MRCT’s renowned capability for early stage drug discovery and optimisation, producing lead molecules that can then be licensed to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry to progress them into clinical trials.

MRCT receives an exclusive worldwide license to the IP rights of UMG related to a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of sporadic and familial AD, based on a panel of unique antibodies developed by its scientist Prof. Dr. Thomas Bayer. MRCT and UMG will then receive downstream payments dependent on the successful development and out-licensing of the antibody. This income will be used for further research within the organisations.