Symphogen strengthens Ab patent position
its Symphage technology for the development of antibody-based
drugs. Clinical trials of the product candidate are due to start in
2005.
Danish biotech company Symphogen has obtained a European patent on its Symphage technology for the development of antibody-based drugs. The patent has been issued to Symphogen's research partner, Boston University in the US, while Symphogen has exclusive rights to this and other previously granted US patents within the same patent family.
Copenhagen-based Symphogen was established in 2000 with the aim of commercialising Symphage, which was invented by Professor Jacqueline Sharon of Boston University. The technology is used to produce polyclonal antibody preparations, known as symphobodies, that are similar to those produced by the human immune system.
The drugs that Symphage can create are expected to be advantageous against diseases such as allergy, infectious diseases, immunodeficiencies, transplant rejection and cancer, and could target conditions which are not amenable to treatment with current antibody technologies, according to the firm.
Specifically, Symphage antibodies are expected to be superior to monoclonal antibodies in the neutralisation or elimination of complex target antigens. Symphogen said it plans to start clinical testing of the first of these polyclonal antibodies around the start of 2005.
