Mon, 08/30/2010 - 8:30am

Immunologix, Inc, a local biotechnology company and a leader in the production of fully human therapeutic antibodies for a variety of diseases, announced today that Charleston Ear, Nose and Throat Associates (Charleston ENT) has agreed to supply Immunologix, Inc. with human tonsil tissue that Immunologix will use to produce fully human antibodies. Immunologix holds the exclusive worldwide license rights to a proprietary technique used to produce fully human antibodies. After the antibodies are produced for its clients, they will move them through the FDA clinical trial and approval process and ideally launch the antibodies into the medical market to save lives and treat a number of diseases.

Immunologix, Inc., is a human antibody discovery and development company specializing in transforming naïve B-cells to produce fully human antibodies that can target any and all antigens including cancer, viruses, bacteria, toxins and auto-immune diseases like diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, just to name a few. More specific information about the Immunologix process can be found on their website at www.ImmunoLogix.com. Immunologix is an SC Launch company.

The explanted tonsil tissue that Charleston ENT and Immunologix collect, with patient and parent/guardian consent, would otherwise be discarded and considered waste. When a patient between the ages of 3 and 12 is scheduled for a tonsillectomy, Charleston ENT will collect the tissue and supply it to Immunologix for processing. Instead of making its way to the trash and into biohazard bags, Immunologix captures billions of cells from each tonsil and processes them in the Immunologix laboratory at the new SCRA MUSC Innovation Center at 645 Meeting Street in Charleston, SC. Space is currently available for lease in the Innovation Center. For more information, please contact John Gregg at 803.343.5310.

"We are very fortunate to have the support of a local group like Charleston ENT Associates for this groundbreaking technology. They are a true leader in ENT procedures in the greater Charleston area and working with them is a complete pleasure," said Dr. Ryan Fiorini, Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Immunologix. "The best part of this joint effort is that, in lieu of payment, the companies have agreed to donate a designated amount attributable to these procedures to a number of local and national charities."

"Utilizing sophisticated biotechnology, the techniques used by Immunologix will enable important, innovative medical research and treatment," said Dave McNamara, SC Launch Executive Director. "We are proud to support their efforts, right here in South Carolina from their labs at the SCRA MUSC Innovation Center in Charleston."