BIOLOGICAL COMPOUND COULD PROVIDE BASIS FOR BROAD-SPECTRUM HIV TREATMENT.

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BIOLOGICAL COMPOUND COULD PROVIDE BASIS FOR BROAD-SPECTRUM HIV TREATMENT.
04 October 2006 - BTG

BTG, the global technology commercialisation company, announced today that it has acquired an important new human HIV antibody technology from researchers at BioClonetics. The antibody, identified as Clone 3, represents only the fifth human antibody worldwide with known anti-HIV potential. It has been demonstrated in in vitro tests to neutralise several clinical/primary strains of HIV virus.

BioClonetics has also successfully identified the specific envelope region, or epitope, on the gp41 molecule to which Clone 3 binds, and has delineated the biological activity of this antibody. The potent activity of the antibody suggests that both passive therapeutic treatment via the antibody and active immunisation or therapy via the immunogen or epitope derivative may be achieved. This provides an important three-prong opportunity to develop treatments for this disease.

Other potential uses for such technology via passive immunotherapy of the human monoclonal antibody also include prevention of HIV infection passing to the foetus where the mother is HIV-positive and administration to medical workers after accidental exposure due to needle sticks or direct contact.

“Clone 3 has potential not only as passive immunotherapy treatment against the broad spectrum of HIV worldwide, but the corresponding epitope may also provide the basis for a vaccine or peptide-based fusion inhibitor.” said Al Renzi, Vice President and Business Manager of Immunology at BTG. “This is an important addition to our technology pipeline in immunotherapy and builds upon our HIV portfolio. We are actively seeking commercial partners to advance its development.”

“The in vitro neutralisation results with the Clone 3 antibody are very encouraging.”, said Dr. Joseph P. Cotropia, MD, founder of BioClonetics and lead scientist who identified the Clone 3 Antibody. “In addition, the epitope is conserved and linear among HIV quasi-species, which means that it can potentially provide cross clade protection.”

BioClonetics has conducted in vitro neutralisation studies which have demonstrated synergy when Clone 3 antibody is combined with other human monoclonal anti-HIV antibodies. In addition, tests to determine the potential inhibitory activity of peptides derived from the gp41 epitope, as defined by the Clone 3 antibody, are being conducted.

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About: BTG
BTG is an intellectual property and technology commercialisation company that operates internationally. BTG creates value by investing in intellectual property and technology development, and in early stage ventures. We realise value through technology licensing, patent assertion and sale of equity investments. Through a multidisciplinary approach, we apply intellectual property and commercial expertise, together with specialist skills in science and technology, to create major product opportunities in the health and high tech sectors. BTG has commercialised important innovations, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Multilevel Cell Memory, Campath (alemtuzumab), the first monoclonal antibody treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, and recombinant Factor IX blood clotting protein. BTG operates through wholly owned subsidiaries BTG International Ltd and BTG International Inc in the UK and USA, respectively.

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