Ono Pharmaceutical and Medarex Collaborate to Develop Cancer Treatment

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Medarex, Inc. have entered into a collaborative research agreement to develop a fully human antiPD-1 antibody for the potential treatment of cancer. The companies have already started working on generating product candidates and expect to begin clinical studies within 12 to 24 months. Under the agreement, Ono and Medarex will share the costs and responsibilities of research and development until a phase II clinical study is completed, after which they will assume full responsibility for continued development and commercialization in their respective territories.

Key Takeaways:

• The collaboration aims to develop a fully human antiPD-1 antibody to treat cancer, with the potential to block the signaling pathway exploited by tumor cells.
• Ono and Medarex have already started generating product candidates using Ono's intellectual property and Medarex's proprietary UltiMAb Human Antibody Development System.
• The companies expect to begin clinical studies within 12 to 24 months.
• The agreement will be jointly developed, with shared costs and responsibilities, until a phase II clinical study is completed.
• Each company will be responsible for continued development and commercialization in their respective territories, with Medarex focusing on North America and Ono focusing on all areas outside of North America.
• Dr. Kigen Kondoh, executive director of research headquarters at Ono, emphasized the potential of PD-1 as a novel discovery target, stating that the collaboration will enable the significant expansion of pharmaceutical products against this target.
• Dr. Donald L. Drakeman, president and CEO of Medarex, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting the potential of the antiPD-1 antibody as a new product candidate for cancer treatment.

Statistics:

• The collaboration aims to begin clinical studies within 12 to 24 months.
• Medarex, Inc. employs a team focused on discovering and developing fully human antibody-based therapeutics.

Sources:

• Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports.
• Copyright 2005, Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com.