CAMBRIDGE, England, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Biomedical Catalyst Award to Support Development of New Therapies to Target Prostate Cancer 

Crescendo Biologics Limited (Crescendo) today announces it is expanding its antibody drug conjugate (ADC) programme with the support of a Biomedical Catalyst Award from the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK. This feasibility award will enable the validation and development of Humabody Drug Conjugates (HDCs) a novel product format based on Crescendo's Humabody™ antibody fragment technology which has huge potential for the treatment of a broad range of solid tumours.

Crescendo's HDCs combine the targeting specificity of Humabody™ VH fragments with highly-potent toxin payloads. Humabody VH are the smallest antibody fragments (12kD) and as such have the potential for rapid, affinity-driven penetration of solid tumours and fast clearance from systemic circulation. This results in a high tumour-to-blood ratio and reduced systemic toxicity, thereby enhancing therapeutic index.

Crescendo's expanded oncology programme builds on the Company's increasing involvement in ADC development as the potential of Humabody technology to develop valuable HDC therapeutics is recognised. The new programme will involve Crescendo collaborating with an established player in the ADC space on the conjugation of a highly potent toxin to a Humabody fragment targeting prostate cancer and is part of the Company's active partnering strategy in the ADC area.

Brian McGuinness, VP Discovery of Crescendo said: "Antibody drug conjugates represent one of the most exciting areas of drug development for the treatment of cancer, where the potential of HDCs to specifically target and rapidly penetrate tumours with highly potent toxic payloads brings the promise of more effective and better tolerated treatments. Our Humabody technology creates ideal targeting molecules for drug conjugates and we are very pleased to have the support of the Innovate UK award to advance our programme at a time when we are seeing an increasing interest from partners keen to work with us in the ADC space."

About Crescendo Biologics  

Crescendo Biologics, based in Cambridge, UK, is focused on the discovery and development of best-in-class Humabody™ human V_H antibody fragment therapeutics, using its novel transgenic platform. Crescendo is enabling the major V_H product formats (multivalent, half-life-extended and topical) for its own pipeline, focused in inflammation and oncology, and to make it the partner of choice for human V_H fragment therapeutics.

http://www.crescendobiologics.com

About Innovate UK 

Innovate UK is the new name for the Technology Strategy Board - the UK's innovation agency. Taking a new idea to market is a challenge. Innovate UK funds, supports and connects innovative businesses through a unique mix of people and programmes to accelerate sustainable economic growth. For further information visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/innovate-uk

Contacts
Brian McGuinness
Crescendo Biologics
Tel: +44(0)1223-497140
Email: bmcguinness@crescendobiologics.com

Chris Gardner
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Tel: +44(0)207-638-9571
Email: chris.gardner@citigatedr.co.uk

SOURCE Crescendo Biologics