Organon NV of Oss, the Netherlands, agreed a collaboration with the technology commercialisation arm of the UK’s Medical Research Council, MRC Technology Ltd, to develop a humanised antibody for the treatment of certain forms of cancer.
The Therapeutic Antibody Group at MRCT will use its proprietary technology to generate a humanised clinical candidate from a murine antibody discovered at Organon’s US research centre.
Organon will pay MRCT research and development milestones and royalties on net sales if any products are commercialised. The pharmaceutical company will retain all development and commercialisation rights.
The MRCT group has a track record in antibody humanisation which extends over 18 years and includes around 30 successfully humanised antibodies. Eight of these have progressed to the clinic and two have received marketing approval.