Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Medarex, Inc. have entered into a collaborative research agreement to research and develop a fully human anti-PD-1 antibody for the potential treatment of cancer. The parties have already started generating fully human anti-PD-1 antibody product candidates under Ono's intellectual property regarding PD-1 and using Medarex's proprietary UltiMAb Human Antibody Development System, and expect that clinical studies could begin in 12 to 24 months.

Under this arrangement, Ono and Medarex will jointly work toward potential commercialization of an anti-PD-1 antibody. The two companies plan to share the costs and responsibilities of research and product development up to the completion of a Phase II clinical study. Thereafter, each company will be fully responsible for any continued development and any commercialization in its exclusive territory; Medarex's exclusive territory is North America, and Ono's exclusive territory is all areas outside of North America, release from Ono said.

PD-1 is a receptor that is part of a signalling pathway that may be exploited by tumour cells to escape immune responses. The Medarex/Ono antibody has been designed to block this signalling pathway in order to potentially enhance the ability of the patient's immune system to attack the cancer cells.