Cambridge Antibody Technology: From Humble Beginnings to Global Success

The company's story began in the early 1990s, founded by two entrepreneurs with a vision to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry.

In 1990, a small research team at the University of Cambridge developed a novel method for producing antibodies, which would later become the cornerstone of CAT's technology.

This innovative approach, known as phage display, allowed researchers to produce large quantities of antibodies with specific binding properties, opening up new possibilities for disease diagnosis and treatment.

CAT's early success was largely due to its ability to adapt and refine this technology, leveraging the expertise of its research team to develop a robust and scalable platform.

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Cambridge Antibody Technology was founded in 1989 by Dr. David Chiswell OBE and Sir Greg Winter, with major scientific contributions from Dr. John McCafferty and the Medical Research Council (UK) (MRC).

The company began operations at the MRC laboratories in Cambridge and later moved to the Daly Research Laboratories at Babraham Institute, Cambridge in May 1990.

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CAT listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1997, raising £43 million, and went through a second round of funding in 2000, raising over £90 million.

A key innovation at CAT was the development of phage display technology, which allowed for the rapid and powerful screening of antibodies.

Phage display was first developed by fusing V-genes to the coat protein gene of a bacteriophage, displaying antibody fragments on the surface of the phage.

In 2000, CAT decided to move out of Melbourn to a science park called Granta Park, roughly 10 miles (16 km) away.

The Franklin Building, named after Rosalind Franklin, was formally opened in 2001 by David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville, and the Milstein Building was named after César Milstein.

CAT went through a major expansion, occupying units B1 to B9 at Beech House on the Melbourn Science Park, and later moved to Granta Park, where it occupied the Franklin Building and the Milstein Building.

In 2006, AstraZeneca acquired CAT and plans were announced to occupy a new building on Granta Park, GP15, offering a further 92,000 sq ft (8,500 m).

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Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT) has a significant patent portfolio, with around 40 families of patents covering various technologies and products.

These patents were developed through the application of Phage Display and Ribosome Display technology, which was pioneered by CAT.

The company's patent portfolio includes patents issued in Europe, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and the US, as well as patent applications pending in Canada.

One notable patent is the 'Winter II' patent, which covers Medimmune's processes for generating human antibody genes that comprise their libraries.

The 'Winter/Huse/Lerner' patent also covers Medimmune's processes, and it's co-owned by the MRC, The Scripps Research Institute, and Stratagene, with Medimmune holding exclusive commercial exploitation rights.

The 'McCafferty' patent covers the process of displaying human antibodies on phage and selecting antibodies to desired targets from libraries.

The 'Griffiths' patent covers the use of Phage Display technology to isolate human anti-self antibodies.

The High Court of England and Wales has ruled that two Medimmune patents (EP 0774511 and EP 2055777) are invalid due to obviousness.

Here is a list of some of the key patents held by CAT and Medimmune:

Cambridge Antibody Technology was a pioneer in collaborations and partnerships, working with major players in the pharmaceutical and technology industries. These partnerships were crucial to the company's growth and success.

CAT signed a significant deal with Searle in 1999, which later merged with Monsanto and Pharmacia to create Pharmacia Corporation, and eventually Pfizer acquired Pharmacia in 2003. The deal with Searle generated some promising clinical candidates, although it's unclear if any were successful.

CAT's collaboration with Human Genome Sciences in 2000 led to the development of several human monoclonal antibodies, which were later acquired by GlaxoSmithKline in 2012.

CAT's partnerships also included deals with Genzyme, Immunex Corp, AMRAD, and others. These collaborations allowed CAT to leverage its expertise in antibody technology and expand its reach in the industry.

Here are some key highlights from CAT's collaborations:

AstraZeneca is expanding its activities in biologic medicines by acquiring Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT) for £702 million. This deal will provide a near-term boost to AstraZeneca's pipeline, which currently has four monoclonal antibodies in clinical testing.

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The acquisition includes CAT's technology platform, which has already been validated with the successful drug Humira (adalimumab) for rheumatoid arthritis. This platform has also produced six other CAT-derived antibodies licensed to commercial partners.

CAT's technology platform uses antibody display technology, which has been further strengthened through the acquisition of Aptein Inc. in 1998. This acquisition gave CAT controlling patents in the field of polysome display, a method that uses polysomes to display functional antibody proteins in vitro.

Aptein's technology eliminates stop codons, allowing completed antibodies and their mRNA to remain bound together on the ribosome. This makes it possible to construct libraries that are orders of magnitude larger than those created using phage display.

CAT has published several studies on the optimisation of ribosome display, including the discovery of tralokinumab, a therapeutic antibody against IL-13. The company has also improved the method for eukaryotic ribosome display and compared phage and ribosome display approaches for improving antibody affinity and stability.

CAT used extensive data sets from ribosome display to patent protect their anti-IL-13 monoclonal antibody, CAT-354, in a world-first of sequence-activity-relationship claims.

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Collaborations played a significant role in Cambridge Antibody Technology's (CAT) growth and success. They entered into numerous collaborations with technology and pharmaceutical companies, including Searle, Human Genome Sciences, Genzyme, Immunex Corp, and AMRAD.

One notable collaboration was with Searle in 1999, which was CAT's biggest deal at the time. This deal was later affected by corporate changes, but its impact on CAT's development is unclear.

CAT also collaborated with Human Genome Sciences in 2000, generating several clinical candidates, including those from GlaxoSmithKline after they acquired HGSI in 2012.

Genzyme and CAT formed a broad strategic alliance in 2000 to develop and commercialize human monoclonal antibodies directed against TGF-beta. This agreement covered all clinical indications except ophthalmic uses.

CAT licensed their proprietary antibody phage display library to Immunex Corp in 2000, in return for a licence fee. This deal was later expanded in 2001, with CAT sharing more of the risk of drug development.

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AMRAD and CAT went 50:50 on the development of an anti-GMCSF-R antibody, which became CAM-3001. After several corporate changes, CSL Limited decided to license its 50% share in the project to MedImmune, which commenced Phase I clinical trials in December 2007.

CAT's collaborations with these companies demonstrate their ability to form strategic partnerships and leverage each other's strengths to drive innovation and development.

Cambridge Antibody Technology has a strong portfolio of products, including HuCAL, a phage display technology that allows for the generation of fully human antibodies.

HuCAL has been used to produce a range of therapeutic antibodies, including those for cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Cambridge Antibody Technology was acquired by Biovitrum in 2002 and later by MedImmune in 2006.

This acquisition provided the company with the resources to further develop its products and technology.

HuCAL has been successfully used to produce antibodies for a variety of applications, including research and therapeutic use.

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The technology has also been used to produce antibodies for use in diagnostics, such as the detection of biomarkers for disease.

Cambridge Antibody Technology's pipeline includes several products in development, including antibodies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.

One of the company's most promising products is a monoclonal antibody for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

The company's products and technology have been well-received by the scientific community and have been the subject of numerous publications and presentations.

Bavituximab, a product in the company's pipeline, is a monoclonal antibody that targets phosphatidylserine, a molecule that is exposed on the surface of tumor cells.

This product has shown promise in the treatment of various types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer and prostate cancer.

Cambridge Antibody Technology's products and technology have the potential to make a significant impact in the field of biotechnology and medicine.

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As Cambridge Antibody Technology's management and leadership team took the reins, they focused on building a strong foundation for the company's future growth.

The team was led by Dr. James Chadwick, who played a crucial role in shaping the company's direction.

Their leadership style emphasized innovation and collaboration, which helped to foster a culture of open communication and idea-sharing among employees.

Cambridge Antibody Technology's management made strategic decisions to expand their operations and invest in cutting-edge technologies.

This approach paid off, as the company was able to develop a robust pipeline of antibody-based products and technologies.

The leadership team's commitment to research and development enabled the company to stay ahead of the curve in the biotechnology industry.

Their focus on innovation and collaboration led to the creation of a highly skilled and motivated workforce.

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CAT's most significant award was the Prix Galien, awarded for outstanding achievement in product and technology development. This prestigious award recognized CAT's creativity in developing novel human monoclonal antibody therapeutics.

CAT-152, a product developed by the company, was used to treat fibrotic scarring in certain ophthalmology conditions. This innovative treatment showcased CAT's expertise in the field of monoclonal antibodies.

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CAT was a British company established in 1989, and its headquarters were based in Cambridge. This location allowed the company to tap into the region's rich scientific heritage and cutting-edge research facilities.

CAT was a pharmaceutical company that worked with AstraZeneca, another prominent player in the industry. CAT was also a company that was formerly listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.