Said to be the first in vitro derived recombinant antibody, it is targeted against Cyclophilin A, which is indicated to play an important role in the mechanism of protein folding
EMD Biosciences has announced a unique addition to its catalogue of research reagents: the first in vitro derived, recombinant antibody.
This antibody is targeted against human Cyclophilin A and is produced by MorphoSys's Antibodies by Design division, a provider of rapid, high-throughput custom antibody reagent services for the academic and industrial research markets.
EMD Biosciences is part of the life science and analytics division of Merck, and operates as EMD Biosciences in North America and Merck Biosciences outside North America. Distribution of additional recombinant antibodies are planned under the collaboration.
The Antibodies by Design division produces the antibodies using its HuCAL Gold library. Non-animal-based and in vitro-generated recombinant antibodies are new to the research markets and combine several advantages over traditional antibodies.
They can be generated within eight weeks from only a minimum amount of protein, DNA, or peptide.
In addition, in vitro-generated antibodies allow for high-throughput production, thus facilitating the development of novel array platforms.
Moreover, the now delivered recombinant HuCAL antibody has been proven superior to traditional animal-based antibodies in biochemical analysis.
These findings have encouraged both parties, EMD Biosciences and Antibodies by Design, to introduce an entire line of recombinant HuCAL antibodies in the near future complementing the vast range of more than 3000 antibodies already offered by EMD Biosciences.
The first antibody in this regard is targeted against Cyclophilin A, which is indicated to play an important role in the mechanism of protein folding.
Recently a number of diseases have been linked to protein folding problems. "Recombinant antibodies developed by Antibodies by Design provide an ideal expansion of our existing antibody product line," stated Robert Mierendorf, chief technology officer at EMD Biosciences.
"We are pleased to work with a company possessing such a powerful technology for rapid development of novel antibodies for critical research needs".
"The market for research antibodies is currently served by monoclonal and polyclonal approaches in animals, but these may take too long for the challenges in proteomics ahead of us," commented Dieter Lingelbach, head of Antibodies by Design and vice president of MorphoSys.
"We are pleased to have such a strong working relationship with a major life science reagents supplier such as EMD Biosciences."