Prolifaron: Panning for antibody gold

The use of phage display technology to generate libraries of antibodies was developed at about the same time by separate groups at the U.K.'s Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Scripps Research Institute in California. While its MRC-derived counterpart, Cambridge Antibody Technology Group plc, has become well-known for the approach, Prolifaron Inc. believes that its application of the technology will be even more useful.

In addition to constructing phage display antibody libraries, Prolifaron develops screening technology, in vitro and in vivo assays and animal models for diseases of interest. "The company as a whole discovers antibodies for immunotherapeutics - the libraries are just a start," said CEO and CSO Katherine Bowdish...