Morphotek to develop biowarfare therapies

EXTON, Pa., Sept. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Defense announced it has contracted Pennsylvania-based Morphotek Inc. to develop therapies against biowarfare agents.

Morphotek is a subsidiary of Eisai Co. Ltd. The biopharmaceutical company specializes in the development of protein and antibody products with gene-based technology.

Under the $2.3 million award from the Department of Defense, Morphotek will continue to develop biologic-based monoclonal antibody therapies against biowarfare agents.

Targeting Botulinum neurotoxins, a highly toxic biowarfare agent, company officials say the contract will help further develop their monoclonal antibody technologies potentially capable of binding and neutralizing the toxic effects elicited.

“We are extremely pleased to receive recognition and support by the Department of Defense to develop these important compounds in our efforts to create novel therapies against biowarfare threats,” said Nicholas Nicolaides, president and chief executive officer of Morphotek, in a statement. “The further development of these compounds will enable us to advance these leads into clinical studies for validation and registration.”

Company officials say development of lead monoclonal antibody molecules once put through clinical trials will enable the availability of the therapy to both military personnel and the public.

Scientists at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases, a Science and Technology Laboratory of the U.S. Army at Fort Detrick, Md., collaborated with Morphotek in an effort to make the program possible.