Navigation Links
Biotech Co. founded by UCLA Scientists to be acquired by Astellas, Pharma Inc.
Date:11/27/2007

A business success story has both UCLA and a team of enterprising UCLA scientists envisioning a brighter future for cancer research and patient care.

In 1996, a unique collaboration of leading UCLA scientists led by Dr. Arie Belldegrun founded the biotechnology company Agensys Inc. and the company now stands to reap $537 million through an acquisition by Astellas Pharma Inc., making it one of the largest Los Angeles-based private biotech firms poised to tackle therapeutic, fully human monoclonal antibody oncology research and drug development.

According to Astellas, the acquisition will enable Agensys to become the cornerstone of the companys biologics efforts and will allow the Agensys team to accelerate its discovery and commercial efforts while working to achieve the vision of building a global leader in biologics and oncology.

Agensys, originally known as UroGenesys, was created with $8 million in seed money from private donors and angel investors, many of whom were grateful patients of the UCLA physicians who had helped spur the development of novel gene-based therapies for prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men.

As clinicians and scientists, we wanted to build on the discoveries made in our individual labs to help move cancer research forward from the bench to the bedside, said Belldegrun, founding chairman of Agensys, professor and chief of urologic oncology in the department of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and a researcher with UCLAs Jonsson Cancer Center.

The UCLA scientists worked with former president and chief executive officer of Teledyne Technologies Dr. Donald B. Rice, who became CEO of Agensys. They were joined in 1999 by Dr. Aya Jakobovits, who helped develop monoclonal antibody technology at the company. Today, Agensys specializes in the discovery of proprietary targets for a variety of cancer indications and in antibody product development, manufacturing
'/>"/>

Contact: Rachel Champeau
rchampeau@mednet.ucla.edu
310-794-0777
University of California - Los Angeles
Source:Eurekalert

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. How the public perceives biotech
2. Monsanto expands sponsorship for Peking-Yale Joint Agrobiotechnology Center
3. UK scientists working to help cut ID theft
4. Scientists show that mitochondrial DNA variants are linked to risk factors for type 2 diabetes
5. Comet probes reveal evidence of origin of life, scientists claim
6. Scientists link fragile X tremor/ataxia syndrome to binding protein in RNA
7. Male elephants get photo IDs from scientists
8. Scientists retrace evolution with first atomic structure of an ancient protein
9. Muscle mass: Scientists identify novel mode of transcriptional regulation during myogenesis
10. Carnegie Mellon scientists develop nanogels that enable controlled delivery of carbohydrate drugs
11. Clemson scientists shed light on molecules in living cells
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:6/18/2013)... Scientists at the University of Calgary,s Faculty of Medicine ... the body from harmful bacteria. Platelets, a component of ... search for specific bacteria, and upon detection, seal it ... which were published in Nature Immunology this ... of immunity. , "The science community has known that ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... At Brandeis University, sophisticated computational models and advances ... the complex interplay between genomic data, virus structure ... critical for replication. , "We ... will help researchers alter virus assembly, leaving viruses ... first author of the scientific paper describing the ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... The National Institutes of Health has awarded $12.7 ... a selection of pharmaceutical industry compounds to explore ... including Alzheimer,s disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and schizophrenia. ... Uses for Existing Molecules, is led by the ... funded by the NIH Common Fund. , The ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Immunity mechanism discovered 2Computer modeling technique goes viral at Brandeis 2NIH to fund collaborations with industry to identify new uses for existing compounds 2NIH to fund collaborations with industry to identify new uses for existing compounds 3NIH to fund collaborations with industry to identify new uses for existing compounds 4
... 4, 2010 -- Supercomputer simulations at the Department of Energy,s ... acids could have contributed to the origins of life. ... directs ORNL,s Center for Molecular Biophysics and holds a Governor,s ... probe an organic chemical reaction that may have been important ...
... USA (October 4, 2010) The Aeras Global TB ... grant from the United States Food and Drug Administration ... TB vaccine development. The FDA grant, which supports the ... United States, the United Kingdom and South Africa, will ...
... Major, PhD, assistant professor of cell and developmental biology, ... Health Director,s New Innovator Awards, one of the NIH,s ... fund his work to address a significant medical science ... contribute to specific cellular and disease processes such as ...
Cached Biology News:Powerful supercomputer peers into the origin of life 2Aeras-led research consortium receives FDA support 2UNC scientist receives NIH director's New Innovator Award 2
(Date:6/19/2013)... 2013   NineSigma , Inc., of ... its launch, NineSights.com is now the innovation ... the worldwide community of innovators. From technology ... experts, NineSights stands out for its large community of ... technical disciplines, all vetted by NineSigma. The community is ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... , June 19, 2013 Biotechnology industry pioneer ... up with financial software provider BlackLine Systems  and ... SAP ) for a webinar next week entitled ... Solutions from BlackLine and SAP to Help Keep Its Account ... http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20061117/LAF027LOGO ) The webinar, geared at ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... Canada (PRWEB) June 19, 2013 ... trial business can potentially be worth up to ... this opportunity, the Indian government is taking serious ... trials the process. , This presentation will examine:, ... trial regulations ,     Immediate and long term ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... Blue Earth, MN (PRWEB) June 19, 2013 ... drugs of abuse tests, today announced that it has ... Canada to market and sell its DrugCheck® NxStep ... licensure allows use of the rapid screening device in ... NxStep Onsite Drug Screen Cup received Health Canada Class ...
Breaking Biology Technology:NineSigma Evolves Global Open Innovation through Social Media Platform, NineSights 2NineSigma Evolves Global Open Innovation through Social Media Platform, NineSights 3Amgen Joins BlackLine Systems, SAP for Webinar on Automating Account Reconciliations 2Amgen Joins BlackLine Systems, SAP for Webinar on Automating Account Reconciliations 3Amgen Joins BlackLine Systems, SAP for Webinar on Automating Account Reconciliations 4Express Diagnostics’ DrugCheck® On-site Test Cup Receives Health Canada Class III Medical Device Approval 2Express Diagnostics’ DrugCheck® On-site Test Cup Receives Health Canada Class III Medical Device Approval 3
... first time, researchers have developed a 3D picture of ... of the human cellular machinery, enhancing our understanding of ... opening up new possibilities for stepping in to prevent ... many tactical manoeuvres employed by the virus. The ...
... (Nasdaq: BIOD ) today announced that Dr. ... present a corporate update at the 29th Annual JPMorgan ... a.m. Pacific Time (12:30 p.m. Eastern Time). The update ... formulations of its lead product, Linjeta™, including milestones and ...
... Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: RDEA ) today announced ... of RDEA594 in combination with the current standard of ... accounts for greater than 90% of the unit sales ... only 30-40% of gout patients respond adequately to allopurinol ...
Cached Biology Technology:Researchers visualize herpes virus' tactical maneuver 2Ardea Biosciences Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Phase 2b Combination Study of RDEA594 in Allopurinol-Refractory Gout Patients 2Ardea Biosciences Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Phase 2b Combination Study of RDEA594 in Allopurinol-Refractory Gout Patients 3Ardea Biosciences Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Phase 2b Combination Study of RDEA594 in Allopurinol-Refractory Gout Patients 4Ardea Biosciences Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Phase 2b Combination Study of RDEA594 in Allopurinol-Refractory Gout Patients 5Ardea Biosciences Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Phase 2b Combination Study of RDEA594 in Allopurinol-Refractory Gout Patients 6Ardea Biosciences Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Phase 2b Combination Study of RDEA594 in Allopurinol-Refractory Gout Patients 7
Bovine Coronary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells (BCASMC) (>500,000 cells)...
Bovine Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells (BPAEC) (>500,000 cells)...
Bovine Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells (BAOSMC) (>500,000 cells)...
Bovine Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells (BBMVEC) (>500,000 cells)...
Biology Products: