|
 NEWS RELEASE
Oslo, Dec. 1st. 2000
Affitech AS acquires exclusive rights to novel vaccine delivery technology
Oslo, Norway, 1st December 2000 – Affitech AS, the recombinant human antibody company, today announced that
it has secured an exclusive 9 months option to a novel vaccine delivery technology, called Troy-bodies™, which has
been developed by researchers at the University of Oslo and the Norwegian National Hospital. Upon execution, the option
will be converted to an exclusive worldwide license with unrestricted sublicense rights.
This vaccine technology utilizes specially engineered antibodies (Troy-bodiesTM) to position candidate antigenic peptides
on the MHC class II molecules on antigen presenting cells (APC). This mechanism has been likened to a Trojan horse,
where the recombinant antibodies enter the APC through normal gateways, and deliver T cell epitopes to the interior of the
cell. Once inside the APC endosomes, Troy-bodiesTM are partially degraded, liberating T cell epitopes that subsequently
bind to the grooves of MHC molecules. These complexes are transported to the cell surface where they can mediate
specific CD4+ T cell responses.
Through its cutting-edge technology and world-class expertise for generating tailor-made human recombinant antibodies,
Affitech will further develop the Troy-BodyTM concept to meet important clinical needs. In line with the company’s
strategy, Affitech will collaborate with partners for later-stage development and marketing of this technology.
"We are delighted to have acquired the rights to this unique and promising technology", said Dr Ole J. Marvik,
Managing Director of Affitech. "The Troy-body approach has a huge potential in prophylactic and therapeutic medicine.
It is a general strategy to elicit a specific cellular immune response, applicable for cancer as well as viral infections. This is
an excellent method for teaching the immune system new tricks and we look forward to continue our scientific collaboration
with colleagues at the Oslo University".
AFFITECH, THE PARTNER OF CHOICE FOR HUMAN RECOMBINANT ANTIBODIES
Affitech is a world leader in the construction of human antibodies using in vitro display and screening technology. The company was founded in 1997 by a group of German and Norwegian scientists and utilizes its proprietary technology and unique patent situation to leverage its core competencies to discover new drug leads. Affitech is an ideal partner for companies seeking access to human antibodies for therapeutic and diagnostic use.
For further information please contact Affitech AS
Dr. Ole J. Marvik, Managing Director
Tel: +47 22 95 87 58
Email: o.j.marvik@affitech.com
Web page: http://www.affitech.com
|
|
