Abbott Laboratories and Protein Design Labs Inc (PDL) announced a long-term collaboration that provides Abbott broad access to PDL's technology for antibody humanization.

Humanization technology is a strategic component in Abbott's goal of generating therapeutic antibodies targeted to unmet medical needs. This technology will be applicable to all therapeutic areas of interest at Abbott. Under the agreement, PDL will humanize up to three antibodies for Abbott, and either company may humanize subsequent antibodies at the election of Abbott.

"PDL's humanization technology will significantly enhance Abbott's industry-leading biologics platform," said Alejandro Aruffo, president, Abbott Bioresearch Center, and divisional vice president, Pharmaceutical Discovery, Abbott Laboratories.

Humanization is a process by which antibodies with highly potent therapeutic properties are engineered to be comprised of primarily human sequences while retaining their potent therapeutic properties.

Abbott currently has exclusive rights to market the humanized antibody Synagis (palivizumab) outside of the United States.