UQ and Biosceptre collaborate on cancer antibody research
The r&d will include antibody, cell line and bioprocess development
UniQuest (UQ), the University of Queensland’s commercialisation arm, has facilitated a research collaboration and antibody production agreement between researchers at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) and Biosceptre International to develop a bioprocess for producing certain monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer.
Under the agreement, the AIBN’s National Biologics Facility (NBF) will characterise candidate therapeutic monoclonal antibodies that bind Biosceptre’s novel proprietary cancer target, non-functional P2X7. The r&d will include antibody, cell line and bioprocess development plus recombinant protein production in pre-commercial quantities ahead of preclinical trials. No financial details have been revealed.
‘Our long-term goal is to develop a therapeutic monoclonal antibody capable of detecting non-functional P2X7 and inducing cancer cell death without affecting normal healthy cells,’ said Dr Cliff Holloway, ceo of Biosceptre.
Biosceptre recently appointed monoclonal antibody pioneer Sir Greg Winter as chairman of its Scientific Advisory Board.