Advertise With UsAdvertise on our extensive network of industry websites and newsletters.
Get the PBR newsletterSign up to our free email to get all the latest PBR
news.Morphotek, a subsidiary of Eisai Corporation of North America, has signed a sponsored research agreement with the University of Pennsylvania to fund research for the development of therapeutic antibody candidates targeting an antigen associated with hypoxic regions in tumors. Hypoxia is a condition in which suboptimal oxygen concentrations exist in tissues.
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Wafik El-Deiry, professor of medicine, genetics and pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and associate director for physician-scientist training in hematology/oncology at the University of Pennsylvania, said: “We are very interested in and looking forward to this collaboration, as targeting the hypoxic tumor microenvironment is a high priority in our ongoing efforts to develop more effective cancer therapies.
“We believe this relationship may lead to a deeper understanding of hypoxia pathways and their role in cancers, and may ultimately lead to the development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies that target antigens required for tumor cells to survive in hypoxic regions.”
Nicholas Nicolaides, president and CEO of Morphotek, said: “This collaboration builds upon our existing relationships with leading researchers at the University of Pennsylvania for possible advancement of therapeutic monoclonal antibody candidates into clinical trials. Dr El-Deiry and his team bring significant expertise to our program in the area of tumor hypoxia, and we are very excited to be working together with his group.”