HAIFA, Israel, May 31, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
BioRap Technologies Ltd, the technology transfer company of the
Rappaport Institute for Biomedical Research at the Technion -
Israel Institute of Technology, has entered into a research
collaboration, option and license agreement with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:
PFE) that aims to further develop a certain monoclonal antibody
into potential new treatment options for a number of chronic
autoimmune diseases.
The collaboration is based on a scientific breakthrough made by
Prof. Nathan Karin and his research
team, led by Dr. Anunu and Dr. Wildbaum, at the Rappaport
Institute. The team developed a novel monoclonal antibody that -
when bound with a certain immune checkpoint molecule - drives the
activity of regulatory T-cells, a cell type that plays an important
role in controlling autoimmunity.
Autoimmune diseases include Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's
Disease and Ulcerative Colitis), Diabetes and Multiple
Sclerosis.
Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer has an exclusive option
to obtain a license to the monoclonal antibody program. If the
option is exercised, Pfizer will be responsible for further
development and potential commercialization of any resulting
product.
BioRap Technologies is eligible to receive potential
milestone-based financial support from Pfizer linked to reaching
agreed upon milestones. Biorap will receive an undisclosed upfront
payment and royalties on sales from any product that may be
successfully commercialized as a result of the collaboration.
During the collaboration period, Pfizer will contribute its
expertise to the research activities to be led by Professor Karin's
team at the Rappaport Institute, together with Biond Biologics,
Ltd. (Misgav, Israel) on behalf of
BioRap.
Dr. Orit Shaked, CEO of BioRap
Technologies, said: "As an academic research institute, we are
excited by this first opportunity to collaborate with Pfizer and
jointly develop potential therapeutics based on this novel
mechanism. Through this research, our goal is to profoundly improve
the treatment of major life and health-threatening autoimmune
diseases, and thereby may provide relief to patients suffering from
these debilitating, chronic diseases".
"We believe that the work of Professor Karin and his team has
shown significant potential to create therapeutic value for
patients with chronic autoimmune diseases, and we look forward to
this collaboration and to what it may yield," said Michael Vincent, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific
Officer, Inflammation & Immunology, Pfizer.
About BioRap Technologies at the
Technion's Rappaport Institute for
Research in Biomedical Sciences
BioRap is the Rappaport Institute's technology transfer company
led by Dr Orit Shaked and its
liaison to industry, bringing promising scientific innovations
generated at the Institute to collaboration with industry and
commercialization. The company provides the legal and commercial
frameworks for the inventions and innovations of RI researchers,
protecting discoveries and innovations with patents, and working
jointly with industry to bring scientific discovery to the market.
For more information, visit http://www.bio-rap.com
Notes to Editors:
Professor Nathan Karin is the
Head of the Department of Immunology at the Rappaport Faculty of
Medicine of the Technion, and a member of the Rappaport Research
Institute at the Technion. Prof. Karin focuses on developing novel
strategies to characterize and selectively amplify the activity of
distinct subsets of regulatory immune cell and by so doing restrain
autoimmunity (Meiron et al Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2008;
Zohar et al Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2014).
For more information:
Orit Shaked PhD, MBA
CEO, Biorap Technologies
Tel: +972-4-8295402
Fax: +972-4-8552296
Mobile: +972-54-7652313
P.O.Box 9697, Haifa 31096,
Israel
http://www.bio-rap.com
Ido Atiya
Global Image Communications
tell: +972-3-6880908
fax: +972-73-7255162
cell: +972-54-4289205
ido_gic@netvision.net.il
SOURCE BioRap Technologies LTD