Schering AG, Germany has acquired exclusive worldwide development and marketing rights for an antibody-based therapeutic fusion protein from Philogen S.r.l., Italy. It is expected to have the potential to treat solid tumors by triggering immunological mechanisms. Financial details were not disclosed.

"We consider antibodies to have the potential for outstanding efficacy in oncology. We believe that the Philogen fusion protein technology has true breakthrough potential product features which would really take tumor treatment to a new level of benefit for the patients," said Dr Joachim-Friedrich Kapp, Head of Specialized Therapeutics at Schering Group

"We are convinced that we could deliver new hope to physicians and cancer patients, if this innovative antibody treatment confirms the promising preclinical results obtained so far," said Dr. Duccio Neri of Philogen.

The antibody-based compound consists of a fusion protein with anti-tumor activity, which binds to an angiogenesis associated antigen expressed by a broad spectrum of solid tumors. This antigen is one of the few good quality markers of pathological neo-angiogenesis known so far.

In 1999, Schering and Philogen started their cooperation on the antibody compound, when Schering acquired an exclusive imaging license from Philogen and got an option for an exclusive therapeutic license.