Oxford Immunotec Announces Exclusive Licensing Agreement With IDIBELL for B Cell Measurement, Technology Featured in Study Published in Kidney International
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
OXFORD, United Kingdom and MARLBOROUGH, Mass., July 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Oxford Immunotec Global PLC (Nasdaq:OXFD), a global, commercial-stage
diagnostics company focused on developing and commercializing proprietary tests
for the management of immune-regulated conditions, today announced that it has
exclusively licensed technology that measures antibody-secreting B cells from
Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), a biomedical research
institute in Barcelona, Spain through its technology transfer office. This
technology is featured in a study published today in Kidney International(1) and
broadens the company's immunological measurement technology platform.
"We are excited to add the B cell assay to our portfolio of transplant
diagnostic products in development," said Dr. Peter Wrighton-Smith, Chief
Executive Officer of Oxford Immunotec. "While there is still significant
development work to be done to commercialize the test, the technical feasibility
and potential value of the assay have been demonstrated in today's published
study."
The B cell measuring technology was developed by Dr. Oriol Bestard's research
team at IDIBELL. Dr. Bestard, M.D., Ph.D. is head of the Transplant Nephrology
team at Bellvitge University Hospital and an associate professor of medicine at
the University of Barcelona. He also runs a research group at IDIBELL focused on
immune-monitoring of anti-viral and allogenic adaptive immune responses using
novel immune assays with the aim of trying to optimize the treatment of kidney
transplant patients. The Kidney International study co-authored by Dr. Bestard
showed the efficacy of the B cell technology in assessing sensitized kidney
transplant recipients not identified by current serological immune tests and,
therefore, at high risk of transplant rejection. The 70 patient study included
patients on a waiting list for kidney transplantation as well as kidney
transplant recipients undergoing antibody-mediated rejection.
The company plans to use the technology to develop and commercially launch one
or more additional tests within its line of products for transplant medicine.
Such tests would complement the currently available PRA Test (Panel of Reactive
Antibodies) and the DSA Test (Donor Specific Antibody), which represent the
standard of care for the assessment of the likelihood of an antibody-driven
rejection event in transplant patients. The PRA and DSA tests depend on the
identification of antibody levels to foreign HLA (Human Leucocyte Antigens) in
the blood. Because these levels fluctuate or the antibodies disappear entirely
for various reasons, patients at-risk for rejection are often missed.
The B cell assay developed by Dr. Bestard may overcome this problem by directly
measuring the underlying B cells themselves, which have the potential to rapidly
react to a donor organ and produce antibodies that contribute to acute
rejection. By measuring these specific foreign HLA antibody-secreting B cells,
the test is able to identify such sensitized patients regardless of the presence
of circulating antibodies, potentially identifying at-risk patients missed by
the PRA and DSA tests.
"This technology fills an unmet need in transplantation diagnostics and even
though there is still a lot of work to be done, I am excited about the potential
of this technology to bring important new information to transplant physicians,"
said Dr. Oriol Bestard, M.D., Ph.D. "I am delighted to be working to bring this
assay to the market with Oxford Immunotec, a demonstrated leader in the
development of tests that measure functional immune responses."
Definitions
HLA - Human Leucocyte Antigens - Proteins on the surface of cells that are
responsible for regulation of the immune system and particularly responsible for
the ability of the immune system to recognize self from non-self.
PRA Test - Panel of Reactive Antibody test - An immunological laboratory blood
test that assesses the extent to which the patient on the transplant waiting
list will react, via pre-existing antibodies, to non-self. Any PRA score
indicates that the patient has a higher risk of antibody mediated graft
rejection.
DSA Test - Donor Specific Antibody test - An immunological laboratory blood test
that assesses the presence of antibodies in the transplant patient that are
generated specifically against the donor's HLA type. The presence of DSA
indicates that the patient has a higher risk of antibody-mediated allograft
rejection. Pre-transplant, the DSA test indicates which donor HLA types may not
be tolerated or would carry a higher risk of antibody-mediated graft rejection.
Post-transplant, persistence or appearance of DSA may indicate a high risk of
ongoing or future antibody mediated graft rejection.
About IDIBELL
IDIBELL is a research centre that integrates the biomedical research of the
Bellvitge University Hospital (HUB), the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO),
and the University of Barcelona in the Bellvitge Campus (UB) and the the
Viladecans Hospital (HV), located in south Barcelona, Spain. The main objective
is to translate scientific discoveries into improved health by facilitating
innovation and technological transfer actions, in order to improve the health
and the quality of life of the population. The high quality of the research
conducted in IDIBELL has been acknowledged by the Health Institute Carlos III,
by awarding it the Health Research Institute accreditation in March 2009.
About Oxford Immunotec
Oxford Immunotec Global PLC is a global, commercial-stage diagnostics company
focused on developing and commercializing proprietary tests for the management
of immune-regulated conditions. The Company's first product is the
TSPOT(®).TB test, which is used to test for tuberculosis infection. The T-
SPOT.TB test has been approved for sale in over 50 countries, including the
United States, where it has received pre-market approval from the Food and Drug
Administration, Europe, where it has obtained a CE mark, as well
as Japan and China. The T-SPOT.CMV test is the Company's second product and the
first in a series of products intended for the transplantation market. With this
announcement, the Company now has seven additional active development programs,
each of which leverages our T cell, innate immune, or this new B cell measuring
technology. The Company is headquartered near Oxford, U.K. and in Marlborough,
Mass. Additional information can be found at www.oxfordimmunotec.com.
T-SPOT and the Oxford Immunotec logo are trademarks of Oxford Immunotec Ltd.
(1)Lúcia M et al. Preformed circulating HLA-specific memory B cells predict high
risk of humoral rejection in kidney transplantation. Kidney International
advance online publication, July 15, 2015; doi:10.1038/ki.2015.205
CONTACTS:
For Media Inquiries:
Caroline Crawley
Oxford Immunotec
Tel: +44 1235 442796
ccrawley(at)oxfordimmunotec.com
For Investor Inquiries:
Rick Altieri
Chief Financial Officer
Oxford Immunotec
Tel: +1 (508) 573-9953
raltieri(at)oxfordimmunotec.com
Mark Klausner
Westwicke Partners
Tel: +1 (443) 213-0500
oxfordimmunotec(at)westwicke.com
This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of
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(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Oxford Immunotec via GlobeNewswire
[HUG#1939181]
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Datum: 15.07.2015 - 22:52 Uhr
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News-ID 407171
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