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DIREVO announces validation of bestMab
New approach for the optimization of therapeutic antibodies generates optiMIRA, an enhanced version of Adalimumab (Humira)

08 May 2008 - DIREVO Biotech AG announced that it has validated its "bestMab(TM)" platform through the generation of an optimized version of the anti-inflammatory antibody, Adalimumab (Humira®), with unprecedentedly strong binding properties. optiMIRA(TM) shows 300-times tighter antigen binding than Humira®, and more than 15-fold tighter binding than the previously most advanced optimized Humira® derivative, which was generated using display technology.
 
"This is a major technical and commercial breakthrough in antibody engineering that has the potential to significantly enhance antibody drug development," said Dr. Thomas von Rüden, CEO of DIREVO. "I am very proud of our interdisciplinary team of scientists and technicians who have made this important contribution to a key area of antibody R&D."
 
DIREVO will use bestMab(TM) as a proprietary cornerstone of its therapeutic antibody platform. Based on bestMab(TM), DIREVO will generate superior 2nd generation antibodies and improve success rates of antibodies in development, both for internal proprietary programs and through partnerships with the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries.