Haptogen
sign deal to access new display technology
23
June 2003. Haptogen
Ltd (Aberdeen, Scotland) has announced the signing of an exclusive
worldwide agreement with Rowett Research Services Ltd (Aberdeen,
Scotland), to license a
powerful new display technology. Developed at the renowned Rowett Research
Institute and known as DNA-binding domain extrusion display (DBD-Ex), the
new technology has application for the panning and display of individual
clones from antibody and peptide libraries. DBD-Ex significantly
increases the ability of Haptogen to raise antibodies to targets
previously considered beyond the scope of current immuno-technologies.
Jim
Reid, CEO of Haptogen said: ‘Accessing this new technology is a very
exciting step for Haptogen. Our work in generating effective therapeutic,
diagnostic and separation antibodies to bioactive haptens is at the
leading edge of antibody engineering and we believe that utilising DBD-Ex
will give us a further advantage in our research programmes.’
Dr
Alan Rowe, CEO of Rowett Research Services Ltd added: ‘We are pleased to
have concluded this license agreement with Haptogen Ltd.
They are a young and highly innovative team with exciting antibody
technology that provides an ideal partner for The Rowett DBD-Ex display.
We’re looking forward to a rewarding relationship.’
Haptogen
has made an upfront payment and will continue to pay royalties over the
10-year span of the agreement. Further financial details were not
disclosed.
www.haptogen.com
Text
ends
Notes
and contact details follow…
About
Haptogen
Haptogen
Ltd, formed in 2002, is a spin-out from Aberdeen University. The founders
have world-class scientific expertise in the area of antibody engineering
and its application to haptens. This know-how, combined with the team’s
proven commercial experience has created a powerful company that is set to
open up new opportunities in a wide variety of therapeutic,
diagnostic and separation areas. Initial development programmes are
focussed toward the very large global markets for anti-infective and
anti-obesity drugs.
About
The Rowett Institute and DBD-Ex technology
The
Rowett Research Institute is an internationally recognised centre of
excellence undertaking research to improve food quality and prevent
disease. The new DBD-Ex technology utilizes the DNA binding domain (DBD)
of the oestrogen receptor which binds with high affinity to specific DNA
sequences, can protrude through the phage coat and demonstrate the ability
to remain bound to its target sequence when the target DNA sequence is
packaged within the phage particle.
Haptogen
contact: Dr Andy Porter
T:
+44 (0)1224 555870 (Direct line)
Email:
info@haptogen.com
Rowett
Research Services contact: Dr Alan M. Rowe
T:
+44 (0)1224 716226
Email:
a.rowe@rowett.co.uk
