For immediate release –11 July 2006: Eden Biodesign and Liverpool University develop new therapeutics for cancer

Eden Biodesign, a leading provider of development and manufacturing services for new medicines, announced today that it has been selected by the University of Liverpool to develop and manufacture monoclonal antibodies against a novel cancer antigen investigated by Dr Roger Barraclough and his research team from the School of Biological Sciences.

The project has been facilitated by MerseyBIO, the organisation responsible for developing the life sciences sector on Merseyside, including the commercialisation of the University’s life sciences research. Dr Barraclough, the leading investigator on the project said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Eden Biodesign. The collaboration will advance our efforts of developing new therapeutics for cancer.”

Dr Crawford Brown, CEO of Eden Biodesign commented: "We are pleased that the University of Liverpool has chosen us to work with them on this project.  We offer unrivalled expertise in the development and manufacturing of biologics, working from day one with the end product in mind. We are the partner of choice for academic groups and biotech companies to get these new medicines out of the research labs and into the clinic”.

The project will be executed at the state of the art National Biomanufacturing Centre (NBC), a £34.25m initiative developed and owned by the Northwest Regional Development Agency. Dr Linda Magee, NWDA Biotechnology Sector Director & Head of Bionow, who is the NBC Project Director also commented: "We are delighted to be providing genuine practical assistance to UK academia in developing and commercialising their discoveries. Additionally, we are very pleased that the project has been initiated at the University of Liverpool, further highlighting the potential of the Northwest.”  Eden Biodesign won the contract to operate the NBC on behalf of the Northwest Regional Development Agency.   

Ends 

For further details contact: Charmaine Colvin on 0870 240 5536 or e-mail charmaine@redheadpr.co.uk  

Notes to editors: 

The National Biomanufacturing Centre 

The £34.25 million National Biomanufacturing Centre, to be officially opened later this year, is a Government-funded initiative led by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) additionally funded through the European Regional Development Fund and the Department of Trade and Industry and aims to establish England’s Northwest as one of the foremost biomanufacturing centres in Europe. 

The centre provides the expertise and facilities to support new and existing biotechnology companies, offering product development services designed to fill in the skill and resource gaps that exist within these organisations. It also provides training in biomanufacturing and analytical sciences, delivering the skilled workforce required to expand the UK biopharmaceutical sector. 

There is also an Access Fund of nearly £3 million which is available to qualifying small to medium companies and academic groups in the biotechnology sector to assist them in purchasing development and clinical manufacturing services from the Centre.  

Eden Biodesign 

Eden Biodesign is a successful international biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing services business that provides ‘state of the art’ development and manufacturing services to biotech clients across Europe, the USA and Asia. It promises all clients a committed service plus the knowledge and expertise to guide clients through process development, manufacturing, regulatory and technology transfer challenges.  

The company uses the principles of ‘Good Science’ at every step of biopharmaceutical development to design programmes and processes that deliver clinically and commercially valuable products, with an accomplished and attentive level of project management that clients need. 

MerseyBIO

MerseyBIO leads the development of the life sciences cluster in the Liverpool city-region.  MerseyBIO develops and supports the Merseyside life sciences sector through start-up and incubation facilities, dedicated business support, and networking activities that support the sector. The MerseyBIO Business Incubator provides a conducive environment for companies to grow.