UK biotech companies to collaborate on cancer antibody

Scancell, a privately held biotechnology company, and Celltech Group are to collaborate on the development of novel monoclonal antibody therapeutics to Lewis y/b, a promising new cancer target.

Under the terms of the agreement, Scancell has granted Celltech the right to evaluate Scancell's SC101 antibody family and Celltech has acquired an option to an exclusive worldwide licence to any products developed during the collaboration.

Lewis y/b is a cell surface carbohydrate blood group antigen whose expression is very low in normal tissue but over-expressed on breast, lung, colon and ovarian cancer cells. Mouse antibodies recognising Lewis y/b have induced tumour cell death and inhibited growth of various tumour lines. In animal studies, tumour growth was inhibited by anti-Lewis y/b anti-bodies alone, and especially when combined with 5-fluorouracil.

'Scancell has generated interesting preclinical data highlighting the potential for SC101 antibodies as cancer fighting drugs,' said Dr Melanie Lee, Celltech's director of r&d. 'Celltech will explore a range of therapeutic options against the Lewis y/b antigen, particularly the use of its novel antibody fragment platform.'