Morphotek receives DOD contract to support mAb therapies against pathogenic strains

Morphotek^®, Inc., a subsidiary of Eisai Inc., announced today that it has been awarded a contract for $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to support the continuing development of monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies against staphylococcal-derived toxins and pathogenic staphylococcal strains. In February 2008, Morphotek was awarded $1.7 million in funding to support the initial development of these mAb therapies.

“We are extremely pleased to receive continued support and funding from the Department of Defense for these important programs”

The funds will be used to continue the research and development of mAbs targeting staphylococcal toxins as well as pathogenic staphylococcal strains directly, for the treatment of this infectious pathogen. By employing its proprietary antibody technologies, Morphotek has developed multiple mAbs that are able to bind and neutralize the toxic effects elicited by microbial pathogens in an animal model to generate potent therapeutic mAbs to treat diseases caused by potential biowarfare pathogens.

"We are extremely pleased to receive continued support and funding from the Department of Defense for these important programs," said Nicholas Nicolaides, Ph.D., President and CEO of Morphotek, Inc. "The renewed funding recognizes the progress we are making to achieve the ultimate program goal to derive potent anti-infective therapies and our continued commitment to support our national security initiatives. The receipt of this grant also underscores Morphotek's commitment to its human health care (hhc) mission of giving first thought to patients and their families and we remain committed to serving the unmet medical needs of patients with infectious disease."

The development of these anti-infective mAb therapies has also been part of a collaborative effort between scientists at Morphotek and the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), at Fort Detrick, MD.