Abgenix Also Receives Patent Covering a New Antibody Manufacturing Technology
FREMONT, Calif., Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Abgenix, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABGX)
announced today that it has received a patent covering a key step that was
used in the generation of the transgenic mice that Abgenix uses for the
production of fully-human antibodies. The patent issued as U.S. Patent No.
5,939,598, entitled: Method of Making Transgenic Mice Lacking Endogenous
Heavy Chains.
Such transgenic mice, referred to as XenoMouse(TM) technology, make use of
the natural power of the mouse immune system to respond to human disease
targets by making multiple high affinity antibodies. However, the antibodies
generated by these mice are composed of 100% human protein rather than mouse
protein. The method covered by the new patent enables this by preventing the
expression of mouse antibody genes, so that they can be functionally replaced
with human antibody genes, while leaving intact the rest of the mouse immune
system.
Separately, Abgenix has also received a patent covering a new method for
the generation of antibody manufacturing cell lines. The patent issued as
U.S. Patent No. 5,916,771, entitled: Production of a Multimeric Protein by
Cell Fusion Method.
"These patents reflect the company's important contributions to antibody
technology research," stated R. Scott Greer, president and chief executive
officer of Abgenix. "They also strengthen the barriers to entry into our
business."
Abgenix is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and intends to
commercialize antibody therapeutic products for the treatment of a variety of
disease conditions, including transplant-related diseases, inflammatory and
autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Abgenix has
developed XenoMouse technology, which it believes enables quick generation of
high affinity, fully-human antibody product candidates to essentially any
disease target appropriate for antibody therapy. Abgenix has collaborative
arrangements with multiple pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
involving its XenoMouse technology. In addition, Abgenix has four proprietary
antibody product candidates that are under development internally, two of
which are in human clinical trials.
Statements made in this press release about the patents for producing
transgenic mice and for new antibody manufacturing technology, Abgenix's
XenoMouse technology, product development activities and collaborative
arrangements other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking
statements and are subject to a number of uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including risks
associated with the success of clinical trials, the progress of research and
product development programs, the regulatory approval process, competitive
products, future capital requirements and the extent and breadth of Abgenix's
patent portfolio. Please see Abgenix's public filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission for information about risks which may affect Abgenix.
SOURCE Abgenix, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.abgenix.com
CONTACT:
investors, Amy B. Giller, 415-677-4455, ext.
206, or media, Amy Flood, 415-677-4455, ext. 211, both of
Noonan/Russo Communications, for Abgenix, Inc.; or Kurt
Leutzinger, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
510-608-6575
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