Philadelphia, July 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SERB Pharmaceuticals has signed a worldwide exclusive license to use an antigen from Soligenix [NSDQ: SNGX] to develop a novel therapeutic treatment for ricin poisoning. There is an unmet need for protection against this highly potent toxin for which there is no vaccine or therapeutic intervention available.
To develop the ricin antidote, SERB will leverage its unique broad spectrum polyclonal antibody platform, gained in its acquisition of BTG Specialty Pharmaceuticals. This specialized manufacturing process generates binding fragments from antibodies that are specific to a given antigen, helping to ensure potency and purity. This platform is currently used to manufacture two of the company’s currently marketed products, CroFab® and DigiFab®.
The antibodies will be generated using a modified form of the ricin toxin, developed by Soligenix. The modifications have removed the biological activity of the protein so that it is not toxic, while still retaining its shape to trigger an effective antibody response.
“With no current therapeutic options, the threat of ricin represents a significant unmet need in the field of biodefense and medical countermeasures,” said Anthony Higham, CEO of SERB Pharmaceuticals. “Our expertise in antibody development and the commercial scale manufacturing capabilities acquired with BTG together with SERB’s track record of reliably providing a portfolio of high quality CBRN…
