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Morphotek Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a Developmental Project grant from the Network for Translational Research in Optical Imaging Consortium of the National Cancer Institute. The grant was awarded to support research to generate antibodies with enhanced antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity that are derived from genetically evolved cell lines generated using the company's proprietary MORPHODOMA® technology. The scope of the program involves the generation of in vitro and in vivo high throughput assays to screen and identify genetically optimized antibody-producing cell clones yielding antibodies with enhanced ADCC as compared with that of the parental antibody for therapeutic development. Morphotek has developed a proprietary platform process called MORPHODOMA® technology that can optimize antibody-producing cell lines to yield subclones producing antibodies with higher affinity, enhanced ADCC or cells with enhanced titers for scaleable manufacturing. Cells are optimized via whole genome evolution using MORPHODOMA® technology yielding pools of evolved sibs exhibiting target characteristics. The grant supports novel research utilizing high throughput assays to rapidly detect ADCC activity of antibodies. We are pleased to have received this peer reviewed funding for the development of assays that can monitor the ADCC activity of therapeutic antibodies derived using our MORPHODOMA® technology. Robust immune-effector function is a key feature of efficacious antibodies being developed to treat many cancers. The combination of our MORPHODOMA® technology along with the ability to rapidly identify optimized antibodies with robust ADCC activity is valuable for the oncology drugs being developed for our internal pipeline as well as for products being optimized for our partners," said Nicholas C. Nicolaides, Ph.D., Morphotek's President and Chief Executive Officer. Morphotek focused on the generation of proprietary organisms for product discovery and development. The Company has a validated and patented platform technology called morphogenics that rapidly enhances the natural process of genetic evolution within a targeted host to yield variants with novel, commercially important output traits. This versatile technology has been successfully applied to microbes, plants, and mammals to yield genetically diverse offspring that are suitable for pharmaceutical and agricultural product development in the areas of antibody and protein therapeutics, high-titer protein manufacturing, and drug target discovery. Morphotek is also marketing an exciting new antibody platform for developing high-quality, fully human therapeutic antibodies that significantly reduces the royalty burdens associated with current technologies. Internally, Morphotek employs its morphogenics technology to develop optimized therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammatory and infectious diseases. For further information visit http://www.morphotek.com.
For Information Contact:
Dr. Nicholas C. NicolaidesPresident, CEO and CSOMorphotek, Inc.
Telephone: (610) 423-6109