Menarini Group and Oxford BioTherapeutics Sign Major Strategic Collaboration for the Clinical Development and Manufacture of a Portfolio of Novel Antibody-Based Cancer Drugs

Menarini Group and Oxford BioTherapeutics Sign Major Strategic Collaboration for the Clinical Development and Manufacture of a Portfolio of Novel Antibody-Based Cancer Drugs PR Newswire OXFORD, England and FLORENCE, Italy, October 29, 2012 OXFORD, England and FLORENCE, Italy, October 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Menarini and Oxford BioTherapeutics (OBT) today announce a major innovative and strategic alliance to develop a portfolio of antibody-based drugs in the field of cancer. The agreement covers five of OBT's antibody and antibody drug conjugate (ADC) programs, each of which addresses a different cancer indication via a different novel oncology target. The deal brings together OBT's discovery expertise with Menarini's clinical knowledge, and expanding capabilities in the manufacture and development of biologics, to build value for both companies as they work to bring this exciting portfolio of next generation antibody-based cancer drugs to market. Under the collaboration, Menarini will lead the efforts in the manufacture and clinical development of each program, supported by OBT, while OBT will provide the proprietary cancer target, antibody and arming technologies. Once clinical proof of concept has been achieved, OBT will complete the clinical development and commercialise these novel antibody-based products in North America and Japan, whilst Menarini will develop and commercialise the products in Europe, CIS, Asia and Latin America.