Firm hopes to file IND in 2009.
Raven biotechnologies entered into an agreement under which CMC Icos Biologics will create a production cell line for Raven’s next IND candidate, RAV18. Raven is targeting to file in 2009.
The product is a humanized antibody targeting the ADAM9 protein on cells. ADAM9 is expressed on solid tumors and is thought to contribute to disease progression and metastasis.
A number of carcinoma cell lines have been shown to amplify the gene for ADAM9 and to overexpress the protein. This overexpression has been reported in pancreatic, prostate, gastric, breast, and lung cancers.
