Licensing opportunity
Studies in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) have led to the identification of a new target for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Leading on from this a monoclonal antibody has been developed, that could provide a novel therapy for this disease and other types of blood cancers. The antibody could be used in both the diagnosis and treatment of AML.
CD 33 is expressed on the surface of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cells and anti-CD 33 antibodies have been demonstrated to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis.
A study at Dundee University in patients with AML has identified a new target for the diagnosis and treatment of AML, the CD33-related receptor, siglec 9.
Patients with AML have been evaluated, and siglec 9 has been shown to be consistently expressed on AML blast cells whilst being absent from normal bone marrow cells. This means the siglec 9 antibody has the potential to provide a more specific therapeutic target and diagnostic marker for AML.
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