Raven Bio and Wyeth extend MAb evaluation period

Raven biotechnologies, a privately-held US company focused on the development of monoclonal antibody therapeutics for cancer, says that Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has exercised an option to extend its evaluation of selected Raven MAb antibodies. As a result, Raven will receive an undisclosed milestone payment.

Under an agreement announced in January 2007, Wyeth has the option to obtain an exclusive license to develop and commercialize selected MAbs from Raven's portfolio of antibodies to a specified target.

The antibodies included in the agreement were discovered using Raven proprietary immunization technology and tumor-derived stem-cell lines and were screened to select antibodies that are active alone or in a conjugated form.