Protein Design Labs Signs Humanization and Patent License Agreement with Teijin for Antibody to E. Coli Bacterial Toxin

Source

Protein Design Labs Inc.
via
PR NEWSWIRE

Forums

Related Articles

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 7, 1997 -- Protein Design Labs, Inc. (PDL) (Nasdaq: PDLI) announced today an agreement with Teijin Limited (Tokyo, Japan) pursuant to which PDL will humanize a mouse monoclonal antibody to a toxin produced by the E. coli 0157 bacteria that can cause serious illness or death from consumption of food contaminated by the bacteria. The program to develop the humanized antibody is being sponsored by the Drug Organization established and authorized by the Japanese government through a consortium of three academic institutions and the Teijin Institute for Bio-Medical Research.

Under the terms of the Teijin-PDL agreement, PDL will humanize the antibody and grant Teijin a non-exclusive license under PDL's humanization patents. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. E. coli 0157 infection can cause a condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) that is believed to result from the bacterial toxin. Such infections may have fatal consequences, especially for children and the elderly. Approximately 5% of HUS patients die and an additional 5 to 30% of patients suffer long-term complications. In recent years, outbreaks of E. coli 0157 infections in the United States have been associated with undercooked hamburger meat, contaminated vegetables and unpasteurized juice drinks. Major outbreaks also have occurred in Japan and Europe.

"There is an urgent public health need to find effective therapeutics against E. coli 0157 infections," said Tae Takeda, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Department of Infectious Diseases Research at the National Children's Medical Research Center in Tokyo and project leader for the development effort. "We are hopeful that this antibody will enable us to neutralize the pathogenic effects of the bacterial toxin and prevent long-term complications and deaths due to E. coli 0157 infections."

"We selected Protein Design Labs as our partner for this important effort because we recognize the strengths of PDL's humanization technology, patent position and technical capabilities," said Yoji Suzuki, Ph.D., Division Director of the Teijin Institute for Bio-Medical Research. "This alliance with PDL offers the potential for rapid development of a humanized antibody which will neutralize the bacterial toxin without provoking an immune response in patients."

"It is gratifying to see an international collaboration come together to target this E. coli-mediated condition," said Stanley Falkow, Ph.D., Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, a member of PDL's Board of Directors and a PDL Distinguished Investigator.

In 1996, PDL received U.S. and European patents that PDL believes cover most humanized antibodies. Corresponding patent applications are pending in Japan and other countries. In addition to Teijin, PDL has issued licenses under its humanization patents to eleven pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Teijin Limited, founded in 1918 as a synthetic fiber manufacturer, has been in the pharmaceutical business since 1974. Recognized as a leading company in the development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, Teijin has developed and submitted for regulatory approval in Japan a human monoclonal antibody to treat cytomegalovirus infections.

Protein Design Labs, Inc., founded in 1986, is developing human and humanized antibodies to prevent or treat a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, cancers and viral infections. PDL has four potential products in human clinical trials. PDL's human and computer-designed SMART(TM) (humanized) antibodies have a longer half-life and are less immunogenic than mouse antibodies, and PDL believes they will therefore be more useful as human therapeutics.

NOTE: Protein Design Labs and the PDL logo are registered U.S. trademarks of Protein Design Labs, Inc.

CONTACT: Fred Kurland, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Protein Design Labs, Inc., 415-903-3987