Molecular Partners and CAT Sign Cross-Licence Agreement

Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT) and Molecular Partners have announced that they have signed a cross-licence agreement, under which both parties obtain substantial freedom to conduct research under certain of each others' intellectual property, as well as the right to develop therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic products.

CAT obtains access to Molecular Partners proprietary Designed Repeat Proteins (DRPs) technology and Molecular Partners gains rights to intellectual property in ribosome display, controlled by CAT, in the field of protein products.

Under the terms of the agreement, Molecular Partners obtains the right to use CAT's intellectual property in Ribosome Display to develop an unlimited number of Designed Repeat Protein products for biotechnological tests and reagents, diagnostic tests and reagents, and therapeutics in all fields.

In addition, Molecular Partners receives the right to sublicense the Ribosome Display with the DRP technology to third parties.

CAT obtains the right under the Molecular Partners' patents to develop and commercialise products using Molecular Partners' DRP technology, including the right to sublicense these products to collaboration partners.

Dr. Patrick Amstutz, Executive Director at Molecular Partners, commented, "We are very pleased to establish this cross-licence agreement with CAT, enabling Molecular Partners to select DARPins with Ribosome Display to any given target and for every possible application."

"This Freedom to Operate makes Molecular Partners a highly attractive partner for all companies interested in novel binding proteins for therapeutic or diagnostic applications."

Alex Duncan, CAT's Senior Vice President Discovery, commented, "We view this cross-licence agreement with Molecular Partners as an important addition to our continuing commitment to increasing the range of technologies that CAT can apply to the development and commercialisation of biologics."

"By working with companies like Molecular Partners we aim to strengthen our leadership position in this field."

"CAT not only obtains access to novel protein technologies, but also benefits from the exchange of intellectual property and the ability to work more closely with a new company in this exciting area."