NEW YORK, June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to expand international
research and capitalize on regional expertise, Acceptys, Inc. has entered into
antibody drug development collaborations with universities in Israel and Hong
Kong that target certain infectious diseases and hemolysis (which involves the
destruction of oxygen carrying red blood cells), respectively.
Under an agreement with Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel
(BGN), the laboratory of Dr. Leslie Lobel will generate and develop
neutralizing antibodies to various infectious agents, with a significant focus
on bioterror-associated pathogens. The antibodies discovered will be
developed as immunotherapies. The work conducted by Dr. Lobel, a member of
the Faculty of Health Sciences, is supported through substantial funding from
BGN Technologies and partial funding from Acceptys. Dr. Lobel's research
activities will be centered in large part on the utilization of Acceptys's
immortal fusion partner cell line, MFP-2, which is highly efficient at fusing
with antibody-producing human immune cells to generate hybridomas, which
inherit the immortal characteristic of MFP-2 and the antibody-producing
characteristic of the immune cells. These MFP-2 derived human hybridomas
replicate indefinitely and are very stable, making them a useful tool for
producing antibodies for discovery, development and commercial purposes.
The first project under the Acceptys-BGN collaboration will focus on
developing antibodies to treat patients experiencing complications following
Smallpox vaccination and victims in the case of a random or intentional spread
of the disease. Despite the early status of this project, Dr. Lobel has
already collected human immune cells from Smallpox vaccinated volunteers,
which have been immortalized by fusion with MFP-2. Over a dozen of the
resulting human hybridomas created by Dr. Lobel to date are producing
antibodies that each individually neutralize several strains of the Vaccinia
virus (which is very similar to Smallpox and used worldwide to immunize people
against Smallpox). During the second half of 2003, the lead candidates from
this panel of human antibodies will be tested for efficacy in animal models of
the disease. Based on the early success of the Smallpox project, the parties
have expanded the collaboration to target the Ebola virus. Dr. Lobel, with
Dr. Robert Downing and the Uganda Virology Research Institute, will be
isolating rare antibody-producing immune cells from survivors of the Ebola
outbreak in Uganda. These antibody-producing cells will be immortalized
through fusion with MFP-2 to generate human hybridomas, which will be screened
to identify antibodies that neutralize the virus.
"Acceptys believes that it is necessary for U.S. and Israeli institutions
to partner in the effort to increase our understanding of these pathogens and
to strengthen our respective biodefense capabilities. There is a significant
need in both countries, and worldwide, for better protections against threats
such as Smallpox and Ebola, two areas where the risk has increased due to
terrorism concerns. We are fortunate that BGN and Dr. Lobel share that
concern and vision, making them outstanding partners in this endeavor ... "
commented Daniel K. Devine, Acceptys's CEO and President.
Acceptys has also announced the license of the MFP-2 cell line to the
laboratory of Dr. Y.L. Kwong, a member of the University of Hong Kong's
Department of Medicine. MFP-2 will be fused with human antibody-producing
cells obtained from patients with drug-induced hemolysis. The resulting
antibody-producing hybridomas will be screened against a panel of cellular
antigens to define their specificity. The goal of Dr. Kwong's work is to gain
a better understanding of the antibody-cellular antigen reactions, which
should contribute to the development of new therapies for this significant
medical indication. "While our internal programs are focused on cancer and
infectious diseases, this was an ideal opportunity for Acceptys to expand the
application of its technologies to new fields, in this case hemolysis, a
medical problem associated with a number of prevalent diseases. This
relationship is particularly beneficial because the Company can gain from the
focus and extensive expertise of Dr. Kwong and his colleagues at the
University of Hong Kong ... " noted Dr. Tony Giordano, Acceptys's CSO.
Acceptys, Inc. develops human antibody therapies for cancer and infectious
diseases. The Company's technologies, including the patented MFP-2 cell line,
utilize human immune cells to create antibodies with the highest percentage of
human composition (relative to competitive technologies) against naturally
immunogenic targets, leading to the right antibody against the right target.
To date, the technologies have generated a vast pipeline of promising
anti-cancer and anti-viral human antibodies. These human antibodies are also
being used by Acceptys as tools to identify, validate and patent the molecular
targets against which the antibodies are directed.
SOURCE Acceptys, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.acceptys.com
CONTACT:
James Singleton, Director, Business
Development of Acceptys, Inc., +1-212-795-7790,
jsingleton@acceptys.com
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