In its latest collaboration involving antibody targets in cancer, Caprion Pharmaceuticals Inc. signed a deal with ImClone Systems Inc.

New York-based ImClone can license certain antibody protein targets to develop and commercialize drugs for treating cancer and other indications. Although specific financial terms were not disclosed, Caprion stands to receive an up-front payment, plus license fees, milestones and royalties.

"ImClone is a great partner, and we're excited to have this deal with them," said Lloyd Segal, president and CEO of Montreal-based Caprion. "As our fifth deal in this domain, I think it unequivocally establishes Caprion as the leading provider of targets for antibodies in cancer."

The company's discovery platform is centered around CellCarta, its proteomics-based technology designed to profile the protein complement of cells by comparing disease conditions with normal states. CellCarta can identify proteins in both blood and solid tumors, and Caprion leverages the platform for developing oncology drugs and in plasma profiling.

In its collaboration with ImClone, Caprion agreed to provide a selection of cancer targets discovered using CellCarta. That mimics other deals the company has signed over the last few years, beginning in September 2002 with an antibody target alliance with Cambridge, Mass.-based Biogen Idec. Caprion also has ongoing collaborations with London-based AstraZeneca plc; Bothell, Wash.-base ICOS Corp.; and Abbott Park, Ill.-based Abbott Laboratories.

"We're at the point where the best players in this game are coming to us and recognizing that if they want to raise antibodies, we are the go-to guys," Segal told BioWorld Today.

While licensing its discovery capabilities has helped fund Caprion's operations, it also has laid the groundwork for developing its own therapeutic pipeline.

"Our next move will be taking targets we've retained from our multiple deals and exploiting those," he said, adding that the company has "a very aggressive program" for advancing its own antibodies into the clinic.

The company plans to focus initially on solid tumors and is in the process of validating a target.

In the meantime, Caprion is moving forward with its lead program aimed at infectious disease. The company recently gained orphan status for its monoclonal antibodies caStx1 and caStx2, which are designed to treat Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections. Both are chimeric antibodies aimed at targeting and neutralizing Shiga toxins, which can cause tissue damage and kidney failure.

That program is expected to enter a pivotal trial by the end of the year.