 |
Debbie
Allen, Andiamo Biotech
Debbie
was originally trained as an oncologist and molecular biologist in
London at the former Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories (now
Cancer Research UK) and in antibody engineering at the University of
Cologne. Having joined Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT, now Medimmune)
in 1993 and been one of the team of inventors of the human mAb drug
HUMIRA®, she moved into business development five years later. Up until
2003, Debbie had direct responsibility for structuring, negotiating and
managing multiple strategic alliances at CAT, including technology,
intellectual property and product out-licensing; corporate equity;
co-development and cross-license agreements.
Over
the past seven years, Debbie has developed an independent consultancy,
Andiamo Biotech, providing business development support to early stage
biotechnology companies. Working together with senior management teams
within companies, their investors and their specialist service
providers, she directs and supports strategic planning and competitive
positioning throughout the deal-making process. Since 2003 she has
represented and been retained by around 25 companies using her broad
knowledge and understanding of the commercial impact of scientific
research on human healthcare.
|
 |
John McCafferty , Cambridge University
In 1990 John McCafferty was one of the founders of Cambridge Antibody
Technology (now Medimmune). During the first year he demonstrated that
functional antibodies could be displayed on the surface of filamentous
bacteriophage and that bacteriophage expressing a specific antibody
could be isolated by “panning” on target antigen. The coupling of a
functional antibody on the bacteriophage surface to its gene (within the
bacteriophage) led the way to a simple method for isolating human
antibody genes to any target of interest (McCafferty, J., et al
(1990) Nature 348 p552-4). An antibody derived from this
technology is now an approved product for rheumatoid arthritis with
worldwide sales in 2008 of over $4 billion dollars. A variety of other
phage derived antibody products are in clinical and pre-clinical stages.
After 12 years at CAT, John set up a group at the Sanger Institute
developing and utilising methods for protein generation and recombinant
antibody isolation in high throughput for research applications. He has
also taken a lead in extending the utilisation of recombinant antibodies
in the wider research community. His group have been actively involved
in a recent international pilot study aiming to demonstrate the
potential in this area. John currently runs a laboratory at the
Biochemistry Dept at University of Cambridge with a focus on the study
of protein interactions driving cell:cell communication. This work
includes the generation of functionally blocking antibodies to receptors
of interest in research and medical applications (e.g. Notch and c-Met
receptors).
|
