Zenyth in-licenses antibodies for arthritis drug development

Australian biotechnology company Zenyth Therapeutics has exclusively in-licensed from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR) patents to antibodies that could play a role in alleviating inflammation and arthritis.

The licence covers antibodies that target the receptor for the cytokine granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). The agreement also provides Zenyth with access to antibodies and reagents developed by a team of researchers at the Melbourne Branch of LICR.

G-CSF regulates the production of key inflammatory cells and scientists at Melbourne's Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) have shown that blocking G-CSF activity has a profound impact on the development of inflammatory disease in animal models of arthritis. A patent application in respect of this discovery has been filed by WEHI, and that patent has been exclusively licensed to MuriGen Therapeutics, a WEHI start-up company.

Zenyth announced last week that it will collaborate with MuriGen to jointly develop a drug to inhibit the activity of G-CSF.

Dr Andrew Nash, Zenyth's ceo, said: 'The technology we have licensed from LICR supports our collaboration with MuriGen and provides us with a great opportunity to rapidly develop a therapeutic antibody targeting G-CSF activity. We expect that such an anti-body will be effective in the treatment of a number of serious inflammatory conditions with large potential markets.'