LUND, Sweden and HEIDELBERG, Germany I July 3, 2015 I Cantargia AB and Glycotope Biotechnology GmbH today announced an agreement on the production of Cantargia’s proprietary monoclonal antibody CAN04. The product candidate CAN04 is directed against the target molecule IL1RAP, expressed on cancer stem cells as well on mature cancer cells. Through the agreement, Glycotope Biotechnology will be Cantargia’s production partner to obtain material for the clinical studies of CAN04 in cancer patients.

Glycotope Biotechnology will be responsible for the development and the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) production of CAN04. Glycotope Biotechnology will manufacture the material to be used in both future toxicology studies and clinical trials.

“The collaboration with Glycotope Biotechnology will be a cornerstone in the development of CAN04. We look forward to work with Glycotope Biotechnology”, says Göran Forsberg, CEO of Cantargia.

“To bring Cantargia’s lead drug candidate into clinical trials will be a great opportunity for Glycotope Biotechnology as Contract Manufacturer for innovative biopharmaceuticals”, says Franzpeter Bracht, COO of Glycotope Biotechnology.

About Cantargia

Cantargia AB (reg.no. 556791-6019) is a biotech company that is developing an antibody-based cancer treatment, which attacks cancer stem cells as well as mature cancer cells. The original discovery by the research team behind Cantargia was the overexpression of a specific target molecule, IL1RAP, in cancer stem cells in patients with leukaemia that is not found in normal stem cells in the bone marrow. In preclinical studies ( in vitro and in vivo ) the antibody, targeted at IL1RAP, has been shown to have two potential mechanisms of action, which are complementary. The company has selected a product candidate for future studies in humans. Preclinical trials with Cantargia’s antibodies have shown a potent antileukaemic effect. Parallel studies have shown an even higher expression of IL1RAP in certain solid tumors. In 2015 Cantargia will be carrying out the studies required for authorization of clinical trials.

Sedermera Fondkommission is Cantargias Certified Adviser.

About Glycotope

Biotechnology Glycotope Biotechnology GmbH is an experienced service provider for the development and GMP-production of active biopharmaceutical ingredients, as well as fill and finish and all related services. Currently Glycotope Biotechnology runs projects from supply for early up to late clinical trials and for market production of an in vitro diagnostic. The integrated services cover the supply of clinical trials up to product launch and market supply. Glycotope Biotechnology supports its clients from process development & transfer, scale-up, GMP-production including quality, bioassays and regulatory affairs. The facilities in Heidelberg are designed for a product range comprising of glycoproteins, antibodies and fusion proteins in several manufacturing lines up to 1,000 L bioreactors for fed batch and continuous (perfusion) bioprocesses.

SOURCE: Cantargia