Kirin Gains Patent For Breakthrough In Human Antibody-Producing Technology
TOKYO, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. today announced that it has been granted a Japanese patent for its Transchromo Mouse(TM) (TC Mouse(TM)) which retains human chromosome fragments and a method for producing human antibodies when it is used. The patent, JP3030092, broadly covers its technology for which applications are also currently being examined in the United States, Europe and Asian countries.
Dr. Koichiro Aramaki, President of Kirin's Pharmaceutical Division, said "The patent effectively protects Kirin's TC Mouse(TM) technology and significantly strengthens our intellectual property position in Japan, covering Kirin's human antibodies business."
Kirin formed a strategic alliance with Medarex, Inc. (Nasdaq: MEDX) on fully human monoclonal antibodies in January, granting both parties licenses to intellectual properties owned and controlled by each other. The alliance provided Kirin with the right to use Medarex's method for creating genetically altered mice which produce human antibodies. Kirin's strong intellectual property position in human antibodies is now further enhanced by its new patent. This is likely to accelerate Kirin's growth in the human antibodies and overall pharmaceutical business which has grown nearly eight-fold from $55.8 million in 1989 to $379.3 million last year, accounting for 3 percent of the brewery's sales in 1999.
Kirin is Japan's foremost beer producer which ranks seventh largest in the world by sales volume. Its pharmaceutical division is applying its knowledge of biotechnology to the development of advanced pharmaceutical products in the field of renal, immune systems and allergy-related diseases, cancer and blood cell production. Kirin's recombinant DNA-based ESPO (erythropoietin) and GRAN (G-CSF), co-developed with Amgen, have annual sales exceeding $300 million in Asia.
/CONTACT: Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd., www-master@kirin.co.jp/ |