Pharmaceutical Business review

Argos and Beckman Coulter sign license agreement

The patented therapeutic use of CD83 was initially filed by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Beckman Coulter then gained license to it and under the latest agreement, retains rights to develop CD83 within the field of diagnostics.

Researchers working with Argos at the University of Erlangen in Erlangen, Germany, discovered that CD83 is an effective immunosuppressant and able to inhibit paralysis in a model of multiple sclerosis in both an active and pre-treatment setting.

In contrast to other immunosuppressive agents, this soluble protein can target autoagressive immune responses without the need for chronic administration and without suppressing the entire immune system. Preliminary data also suggests that CD83 may have clinical utility in the treatment of transplantation rejection and autoimmune diabetes.

“As a complement to our dendritic cell-based immunotherapeutic programs, this agreement allows us to advance our CD83 development activities based on its novel immunosuppressive properties,” said Jeff Abbey, vice president of business development for Argos Therapeutics.