Biogen Idec has agreed to pay $31.5 million upfront to Genentech co-develop a next-generation antibody drug against the CD20 protein on cells, the same target on cells of Rituxan. Cambridge, MA-based Biogen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) said Thursday it agreed to participate in the development of GA101, a humanized antibody that’s designed to increase the direct cell-killing capability of the drug, and its ability to stimulate the immune system to add to the fight against blood cancer cells. The drug is currently in Phase I/II clinical trials, Biogen said.
Author: Luke Timmerman
Luke is an award-winning journalist specializing in life sciences. He has served as national biotechnology editor for Xconomy and national biotechnology reporter for Bloomberg News. Luke got started covering life sciences at The Seattle Times, where he was the lead reporter on an investigation of doctors who leaked confidential information about clinical trials to investors. The story won the Scripps Howard National Journalism Award and several other national prizes. Luke holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and during the 2005-2006 academic year, he was a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT.
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