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Morphotek(R) Announces Collaborative Research Agreement With Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research

Posted on: Tuesday, 15 January 2008, 09:01 CST

Morphotek®, Inc., a subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd., today announced the signing of a collaborative research agreement with the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR). The multi-year agreement will fund research at LICR to develop model systems that can validate the role of novel pathways for human disease and conduct preclinical proof-of-concept studies to demonstrate the feasibility of employing antibodies to block these disease pathways, potentially leading to the development of novel therapies.

"This collaboration offers Morphotek novel technology and model systems to rapidly validate targets and potential therapeutic lead antibodies generated from our MORPHODOMA® technologies," said Nicholas Nicolaides, Ph.D., President and CEO of Morphotek. "The LICR research team has a proven scientific track record and technology for developing model systems, as well as the ability to test the activity of biological compounds for proof-of-concept at the preclinical stage. This collaboration will support our efforts to rapidly discover, develop and validate lead antibodies that can in turn be tested in clinical trials for a variety of potential disease indications."

Morphotek and LICR have collaborated for several years on programs that have led to clinical candidates. The precursor antibody to Morphotek's lead therapeutic antibody, MORAb-003, currently in Phase II trials for ovarian cancer, was originally discovered by LICR researchers and optimized using Morphotek's MORPHODOMA® technology. The target and precursor of a second antibody product, MORAb-004, in development for the treatment of neovascular diseases, also was discovered by LICR researchers using their proprietary technology. Morphotek has exclusive licenses to both compounds and intends to advance MORAb-004 to clinical trials in Fiscal Year 2008 (year ending March 31, 2009).

About Morphotek

Morphotek®, Inc., a subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd., is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of protein and antibody products through the use of a novel and proprietary gene evolution technology. The technology has been successfully applied to a broad variety of cell lines and organisms to yield genetically diverse offspring that are suitable for pharmaceutical product development in the areas of antibody therapeutics, protein therapeutics, product manufacturing, drug target discovery, and improved output traits for commercial applications. The company is currently focusing its platform on the development and manufacturing of therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and infectious disease. For more information, please visit www.morphotek.com.

About Eisai Co., Ltd.

Eisai Co., Ltd. is a research-based human health care (hhc) company that discovers, develops and markets products throughout the world. Eisai focuses its efforts in three areas of therapeutic focus: Integrative neuroscience including neurology and psychiatric medicines; gastrointestinal disorders; and integrative oncology including oncotherapy and supportive-care treatments. Through a global network of research facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, Eisai actively participates in all aspects of the worldwide health care system. Eisai employs about 10,000 people worldwide and reported worldwide sales of ¥674.1 billion in FY2006 (year ended March 31, 2007). More than 50 percent of the group sales are derived from overseas business. For more information, please visit www.eisai.co.jp.

About Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research

The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR) is the largest international not-for-profit institute dedicated to understanding and seeking treatments for cancer. LICR has a global scientific network, with operations at 43 sites in 15 countries. LICR has developed an extensive portfolio of reagents, knowledge, expertise and intellectual property, and has also assembled the personnel, facilities and practices necessary to patent, clinically evaluate, license, and thus translate, the most promising aspects of its own laboratory research into cancer therapies. For more information, please visit www.licr.org.

Source: Business Wire

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