Intrexon, a privately held synthetic biology company has acquired Immunologix. Immunologix specializes in transforming naïve B-cells to produce 100% human monoclonal antibodies that can target all antigen types including, but not limited to cancer cells, viruses, bacteria, toxins, plus those epitopes related to autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

 

From its exclusive patent license from the Medical University of South Carolina, Immunologix developed mAbLogix platform to deliver a key unmet need in antibody-based therapeutics. Importantly, the mAbLogix technology platform enables the unique ability to derive fully human antibodies using a 100% in vitro systems. The Charleston-based Immunologix scientific team is now part of Intrexon’s protein production division, headquartered in Foster City, CA.

 

According to Gerardo A. Zapata, PhD, president of Intrexon’s protein production division, the current market for therapeutic and diagnostic antibodies is estimated to exceed $40B per year worldwide and many of the current marketed antibodies are not fully human. “There are many high value areas that are either underserved or in need of significant efficacy and safety improvement by using fully human antibodies,” commented Zapata. “Acquisition of the mAbLogix technology and know-how, coupled with the cell processing capabilities of Intrexon’s recently announced cell engineering unit, provides us with a much faster, better, and less expensive process from discovery to the scale-up of valuable, fully human therapeutic antibodies.”