Affitech and Viventia to collaborate on novel target identification and selection
Canadian biotechnology company Viventia Biotech, of Toronto, and Norwegian company Affitech, of Oslo, have entered into a research collaboration to identify novel antigens on various cancer cells and to select antibodies targeting those antigens for subsequent development as potential therapeutics.
Canadian biotechnology company Viventia Biotech, of Toronto, and Norwegian company Affitech, of Oslo, have entered into a research collaboration to identify novel antigens on various cancer cells and to select antibodies targeting those antigens for subsequent development as potential therapeutics.
Under the terms of the agreement, Affitech will employ its high quality human antibody libraries and its proprietary discovery and screening technologies to cancer cells in order to simultaneously discover cell surface targets and their respective antibodies. Viventia will subsequently apply its ImmunoMine screening and UnLock target identification platforms to further characterise and validate those novel antigens and antibodies for future development.
The collaboration involves technology access fees and milestone payments to Affitech at various stages of the discovery process, while newly discovered antigens and antibodies will be jointly owned by Viventia and Affitech. The companies will have alternating rights to pick matching antigen-antibody pairs for further development in exchange for customary fees and royalties to the other party.
'This collaboration is the second one in 2003 for Affitech in the cancer therapeutics area, and it further underscores the strength and quality of Affitech's technology and expertise as well as its commitment in the development of both technology and products,' said Dr Ole Jorgen Marvik, ceo of Affitech.