In Cell Art and OMT agree collaboration
Firms team up for generation of human monoclonal antibodies
In Cell Art, a French biotechnology company involved in macromolecular drug-delivery systems (siRNA, DNA and proteins), and Open Monoclonal Technology (OMT), a Californian biotechnology company developing fully human monoclonal antibodies (mAb), have agreed to work together on the generation of novel monoclonal antibodies using OMT transgenic rats and ICAntibodies.
In Cell Art’s ICAntibodies is an integrated process for antigen design, nanocarriers/DNA formulation and genetic immunisation in mice, rats and rabbits. With the generation of a sixtieth antibody using its genetic immunisation technology, In Cell Art is able to produce novel functional antibodies against membrane targets, as well as intracellular or secreted antigens.
The company is scaling up its production capacity to accelerate the discovery, screening and development of its partners’ new therapeutic or diagnostic antibodies.
Chloé Bellocq, chief executive, and Bruno Pitard, scientific adviser and co-founder of In Cell Art, said: ‘Our partnership with OMT aims to produce fully human antibodies, which will validate ICAntibodies technology in OMT’s proprietary humanised rats.’
Roland Buelow, OMT’s ceo, added: ‘Our initial tests of In Cell Art’s DNA immunisation technology were encouraging, and we are pleased to take this next step and begin a collaboration [programme]. Clearly DNA immunisation will make it easier to generate monoclonals specific for proteins that are difficult to purify.’