Alliance to Develop Monoclonal Antibody

An option to enter into an exclusive partnership to develop a human monoclonal antibody to TRAIL Receptor-2 has been announced by Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT, Melbourn, UK) and Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (HGSI, Rockville, MD, USA).

TRAIL-R2 mAb is an agonistic antibody that specifically recognizes the TRAIL Receptor-2 protein, found on the surface of a number of cancer cell types. In preclinical studies, the antibody demonstrated the ability to reduce or prevent the growth of certain tumors in animal models. TRAIL Receptor-2, a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family receptors, is called a "death receptor” because of its ability to cause tumor cell death when triggered by the natural ligand TRAIL. TRAIL-Receptor 2, discovered by HGSI, is expressed on a number of solid tumors. It has been shown that cell lines derived from such tumors are sensitive to killing by apoptosis induced by binding to TRAIL and TRAIL-R2mAb.


HGSI and CAT announced an antibody product development alliance in early 2000. The agreement provides HGSI with rights to use CAT's antibody technology to develop and sell human antibodies for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. In return, CAT is entitled to receive license fees, clinical development milestones, and royalties on sales. TRAIL-R-2 mAb is the third HGSI antibody drug candidate to emerge from this collaboration. The other two are TRAIL-R1 mAb, also for treating cancer, and LymphoState-B, a monoclonal antibody to BLys for use in treating lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

"We look forward to completing the preclinical development of TRAIL-R2 mAb and to entering this promising anti-tumor drug candidate into clinical trials,” said William A. Haseltine, Ph.D., chairman and CEO of HGSI.




Related Links:
Cambridge Antibody Technology
Human Genome Sciences