For Immediate Release
Rockville, MD, October 19, 2004
ROCKVILLE, Md., OCTOBER 19 -- OriGene Technologies Inc. and MacroGenics, Inc. announced today that the companies have entered into a license agreement for a cancer target initially identified with OriGene's HTP- Rapid-ScanTM technology. MacroGenics has the exclusive right to develop compounds against the target under the terms of their collaboration and will focus on the development of therapeutic monoclonal antibody candidates to this molecule. In exchange, OriGene will be entitled to receive various option fees, milestones and royalty payments as the compounds are developed and commercialized.
HTP-Rapid-ScanTM Technology is OriGene's gene expression-profiling program that compares the expression of cDNAs obtained from OriGene's TrueCloneTM Collection in cancerous versus normal samples representing 48 different tissue types. Given that the TrueCloneTM Collection is the largest collection of human full-length cDNAs, HTP-Rapid-ScanTM Technology offers one of the most thorough and comprehensive solutions for identifying potential cancer therapy targets.
"OriGene's HTP-Rapid-ScanTM Technology has provided an excellent complement to our own cancer discovery efforts. The particular target selected will be added to our preclinical discovery program to identify new monoclonal antibody candidates to treat cancer," said Scott Koenig, M.D., Ph.D., MacroGenics' CEO.
"We are excited to have the opportunity to work with MacroGenics' unique and impressive expertise in the antibody field. Their technology base for the development and modification of monoclonal antibody, particularly in the Fc region, makes MacroGenics the ideal partner to exploit our discovery resource," said Wei-Wu He, Ph.D., OriGene Chairman.
About MacroGenics, Inc.
MacroGenics is a privately funded company focused on the development, manufacture and commercialization of biotechnology products including immunotherapeutics for cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. MacroGenics' core platform involves antibody receptor-related technologies which are employed to improve the ways cytotoxic antibody mediate cell killing for the treatment of cancers and to prevent autoantibody from triggering disease in autoimmunity.
About OriGene Technologies
OriGene Technologies, a molecular tool provider for system biology studies, utilizes high-throughput gene cloning and gene expression profiling to develop commercially available products for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and academic research and discovery applications. OriGene's flagship product is the TrueCloneTM Collection, a searchable gene bank of over 22,000 human full-length cDNA clones suitable for transfection and in vivo or direct in vitro expression. OriGene obtains its TrueCloneTM Collection cDNA clones directly from plasmid cDNA libraries avoiding the sequence errors introduced by other cloning methods. More information about OriGene Technologies and their products is available at the company's web site at http://www.origene.com/.
CONTACTS FOR PRESS RELEASE
Dr. Scott Koenig, CEO; KoenigS@macrogenics.com; 301-354-0680
Mr. Michael Richman, COO; RichmanM@macrogenics.com; 301-354-0681