Cobra licenses DNA technology to AZ

Cobra Biomanufacturing, the international manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals, has signed a collaborative agreement with AstraZeneca (AZ).

Under the agreement Cobra will supply know how and licences to its DNA manufacturing technology in support of AZ's programmes for the identification and evaluation of conventional drug targets.

David Thatcher, chief executive of Cobra, said: 'We are pleased that AstraZeneca has chosen to collaborate with Cobra. This agreement demonstrates that Cobra's DNA manufacturing technology and expertise has application in the development of conventional drugs as well as Cobra's main focus of DNA vaccines and gene therapy products.'

John Stageman, vice president, enabling science, technology & information for AstraZeneca said: 'We are delighted to be working with Cobra Biomanufacturing and expect that access to their expertise in DNA manufacture will have direct benefit to our discovery programmes.'