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 NEWS RELEASE
Oslo, April 2nd. 2001
Affitech AS further strengthens its patent positions within phage display of human antibody fragments
Oslo, Norway, 2nd April 2001 - Affitech AS has announced that it has been granted its first European patent on key
technology related to phage display from the European Patent Office. The patent, [No. 547201], claims the use of phagemids as a
vehicle for generating libraries of antibodies as fusions to coliphage protein pIII, and the subsequent display of these fusions proteins
on phage particles. An equivalent patent, and divisionals thereof, have already been granted in the United States.
These granted patents significantly strengthen Affitech’s position in the field of phage display. The use of phagemids together with
pIII–antibody fusions is commonly used in phage display since it allows the propagation of the viral DNA either as a plasmid or as a viral
particle. Phagemid vectors are also essential for achieving high complexity libraries, and facilitates the selection of high affinity antibody
fragments. The patents stem from some of the pioneering work in phage display done by Professor Melvyn Little at the German Cancer
Research Center in Heidelberg, Germany, one of the co-founders of Affitech.
Affitech already enjoys a general freedom to practice all aspects of phage display and its use for in vitro discovery of antibodies. The granted
phagemid patent further strengthens the position of Affitech in the marketplace by protecting key steps in this process.
“This patent, together with the granted US patents, places Affitech in a unique situation within the phage display area,” said Dr Ole J.
Marvik, CEOfficer of Affitech AS. “Our strong patent position is a major benefit to our partners, since this technological field is generally
encumbered with a very complex patent situation.”
Affitech is a biotechnology company based in Oslo, Norway, which specializes in the development of high affinity human antibody
fragments using combinatorial biology. The company was formed in 1997 as a joint initiative between Dr. Ole J. Marvik, based in Oslo, and
Prof. Melvyn Little at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg. With key proprietary rights, as well as extensive experience and
know-how, Affitech is fast becoming a leader in its field.
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
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