Antigens are important markers that alert the immune system to a foreign invader, such as cancer cells, and prompt T cells to attack and destroy the invader.
Antigens are an essential element in the development of powerful, targeted cancer vaccines.
Genzyme Molecular Oncology expects to identify dozens of antigens during the research term. The agreement allows for Purdue Pharma to select a specified number of cancer antigens identified by Genzyme Molecular Oncology under the research program. Genzyme Molecular Oncology and Purdue Pharma may each commercialize products using those selected antigens based on delivery technology. Genzyme Molecular Oncology estimates that the selected antigens will be less than half of the total number of antigens it expects to discover during the research term. Genzyme Molecular Oncology will retain rights to those antigens not selected by Purdue Pharma.