Fusion Antibodies - Research Alliance with Queen’s University Belfast
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
RNS Number : 9366J
Fusion Antibodies PLC
16 April 2020
16 April 2020
Fusion Antibodies plc
("Fusion Antibodies", "Fusion" or the "Company")
Research Alliance with Queen's University Belfast
Fusion Antibodies (AIM: FAB), specialists in pre-clinical antibody discovery,
engineering and supply, announces that the Company is working with
Queen's University Belfast ("QUB") as part of The Northern Ireland
Coronavirus Antibody Development Alliance ("NICADA"), which has been
established to seek new therapeutic and diagnostic approaches to help in the
global fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
NICADA aims to develop new therapeutic molecules that can be evaluated for
their ability to neutralize SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19
disease.
Working with Professor Ultan Power in the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute of
Experimental Medicine, Professor Chris Scott in The Patrick G Johnston Centre
for Cancer Research and Dr Fuquan Lui in the School of Biological Sciences, at
QUB, it is intended that Fusion will prepare antibodies that will potentially
neutralise the virus. There is a shortage of key reagents for testing globally
and, although not a core service currently offered by the Company, Fusion
Antibodies will be using their expertise in the development of key antibody
related reagents
Fusion and QUB have not agreed to any financial arrangements in respect of
the research alliance, and the arrangement is not expected to impact Fusion's
revenue or working capital position.
Paul Kerr, Chief Executive Officer of Fusion Antibodies said: "We are
delighted to be able assist in the global battle against coronavirus. In the first
instance we'll work with Queen's University Belfast to use our expertise in the
development of any key reagents."
Professor Chris Scott, Director of the Patrick G Johnston Cancer
Centre, Queen's University Belfast, said: "By bringing together diverse
researchers from virology, biological sciences and cancer research we are rapidly
contributing to the development of new reagents that could not only neutralize
the virus, but also aid diagnostic efforts; both of which are needed to inform
decisions on lifting the current lockdown. We are delighted to initiate this
alliance with Fusion Antibodies and to direct our research capabilities towards
tackling this global pandemic."
Ultan Power, Professor of Molecular Virology, Queen's University
Belfast said: "The NICADA alliance provides an excellent opportunity to
generate novel therapeutics and diagnostics to help the global fight against
SARS-CoV-2."
The NICADA alliance is actively harnessing leading scientific talent to assist
with tackling the global coronavirus pandemic.
Enquiries:
Fusion Antibodies plc
Dr Paul Kerr, Chief Executive Officer
James Fair, Chief Financial Officer
Allenby Capital Limited
James Reeve / Asha Chotai
Walbrook PR
Anna Dunphy
Paul McManus
www.fusionantibodies.com
Via Walbrook PR
Tel: +44 (0)20 3328 5656
Tel: +44 (0)20 7933 8780 or fusion@walbrookpr.com
Mob: +44 (0)7876 741 001
Mob: +44 (0)7980 541 893
About Fusion Antibodies plc
Fusion is a Belfast based contract research organisation ("CRO") providing a
range of antibody engineering services for the development of antibodies for
both therapeutic drug and diagnostic applications.
The Company's ordinary shares were admitted to trading on AIM on 18
December 2017. Fusion provides a broad range of services in antibody
generation, development, production, characterisation and optimisation.
These services include antigen expression, antibody production, purification
and sequencing, antibody humanisation using Fusion's proprietary
CDRx TM platform and the production of antibody generating stable cell lines
to provide material for use in clinical trials. Since 2012, the Company has
successfully sequenced and expressed over 250 antibodies and successfully
completed over 100 humanisation projects and has an international, bluechip client base, which has included eight of the top 10 global pharmaceutical
companies by revenue.
The Company was established in 2001 as a spin out from Queen's University
Belfast. The Company's mission is to enable pharmaceutical and diagnostic
companies to develop innovative products in a timely and cost-effective
manner for the benefit of the global healthcare industry. Fusion Antibodies
provides a broad range of services in antibody generation, development,
production, characterisation and optimisation.
Fusion Antibodies growth strategy is based on combining the latest
technological advances with cutting edge science to deliver new platforms
that will enable Pharma and Biotechs get to the clinic faster, with the optimal
drug candidate and ultimately speed up the drug development process.
The global monoclonal antibody therapeutics market was valued at $135.4
billion in 2018 and is forecast to surpass $212.6 billion in 2022, an increase
at a CAGR of 12.0 per cent. for the period 2018 to 2022. In 2017, seven of the
world's ten top selling drugs were antibody-based therapeutics with the
combined annual sales of these drugs exceeding $63.2 billion.
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