Protein Design Labs Inc (PDL) announced an agreement that provides MedImmune Inc rights to obtain commercial licenses under PDL's antibody humanization patents for up to three humanized antibodies over a period of five years. According to the agreement, PDL will receive a non-creditable, non-refundable upfront signing fee. MedImmune can increase the number of available licenses to as many as six antibodies during the five-year period by payment of additional fees. As a leader in the development of monoclonal antibodies, MedImmune has a broad pipeline of products that may benefit from the technology covered by PDL's humanization patents.

"We are pleased to expand and extend our relationship with MedImmune, a leader in the development and commercialization of novel antibody-based therapeutics," said Mark McDade, Chief Executive Officer, PDL. "This agreement further demonstrates that PDL is the partner of choice among the various antibody technology companies. MedImmune becomes the sixth company to obtain a patent rights agreement for multiple antibodies, and the second such partner which already has commercialized an antibody utilizing PDL's technology. We therefore look forward to their continued development successes."

Upon exercise of a license for a particular antibody, PDL will receive an additional license fee and royalties on net sales of any resulting antibody products. Specific financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

This patent rights agreement follows licenses granted to MedImmune in 1997 under PDL's antibody humanization patents for Synagis (palivizumab), the first monoclonal antibody approved to prevent an infectious disease, and for siplizumab, an antibody currently in Phase II testing as a treatment for psoriasis.