Friday, 29/08/2008
Merk And Co
In 2001, CAT and Merck (http://www.merck.com) entered into a collaboration to identify and develop human monoclonal antibody therapeutics against a key target involved in HIV-mediated disease, Gp-41.
Under the terms of the five-year collaboration, Merck provided proprietary technology and experience in HIV biology and CAT provided its antibody libraries and know-how. Merck received exclusive rights to prophylactic and therapeutic products developed in the collaboration with CAT against Gp-41. CAT received an upfront technology access fee and will receive milestone payments during the course of development and royalty payments on the sale of products based on both human monoclonal antibodies and on non-antibody products validated using CAT's technology.
This exciting collaboration resulted in the isolation of a broadly neutralising IgG (D5) that recognises a novel epitope in the N-terminal region of Gp-41. This antibody has demonstrated that the HIV entry mechanism is accessible to an IgG and has provided key structural information in support of Merck's HIV vaccine development programme.
Subsequently in 2002, CAT and Merck entered into an additional, multi-site library licence agreement with ongoing expert support from the technology transfer team. The antibody libraries will be used by Merck to support and promote discovery research and development across a broad range of therapeutic areas. CAT received an upfront licence fee upon the transfer of the libraries to the designated Merck sites. In addition CAT may receive milestone and royalty payments from Merck and Merck received option rights to develop therapeutic and diagnostic products on an exclusive basis.