Find a hole and fill it
Improving the creation and screening of phage-based antibody libraries can be a risky task, as Cambridge Antibody Technology Group plc holds a key patent on the technology. However, Affitech AS believes it has found a way to improve the technology without violating the patent, based on the failure of the technology's originator, the U.K.'s Medical Research Council, to file for patent protection in Norway.
As a result, Affitech (Oslo, Norway) has been able to develop a version of phage display both for its own use and for the use of partners.A recent antibody collaboration and cross-license agreement for antibody-related technologies with Xoma Ltd. (XOMA, Berkeley, Calif.) gives Affitech four technology licenses and seven therapeutic collaborations (see "Affitech Deals"). ...