GlaxoSmithKline strikes deal to acquire tumour specific antigens

GlaxoSmithKline has announced it has acquired a “substantial” portfolio of tumour-specific antigens from the international Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR).

As part of the agreement, LICR will license a range of its tumour-specific antigen’s to the UK’s largest pharmaceuticals manufacturer for clinical development.

Tumour-specific antigens are essentially proteins found only in tumour cells. If drugs can be designed to target only those proteins – by using monoclonal antibodies, for instance – then an immune response from the body could be induced to target only those cancer cells, as if they were a foreign body. In theory, the cancer cells would eventually be eliminated by such a response.

Jean Stephenne, president of Glaxo’s biologicals division, stated: “With the licensing of this impressive portfolio of cancer antigens, we endorse our collaboration with the Ludwig Institute and reaffirm our commitment to using our experience in immunology to develop innovative immunotherapies against a wide variety of oncology conditions.”

Jonathan CA Skipper, executive director for intellectual property and licensing at LICR, added: “It is with great confidence that LICR hands the baton for the clinical development of our best tumor-specific antigens to Glaxo.”

Glaxo said that this approach of cancer treatment is aimed at reducing the risk of recurrence following surgery and early metastatic growth to hold back tumour growth.

Included in the portfolio are antigens designed to characterise the response to cancer cells from melanoma, lung, bladder and prostate cancers. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

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