Singapore: WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman), a leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device R&D outsourcing company with operations in China and the US, and Open Monoclonal Technology, (OMT), an innovator in novel transgenic animals for development of human therapeutic antibodies, entered into an agreement to use OMT's OmniRat to develop therapeutic antibody candidates for commercialization by WuXi's global customers.

This transaction advances WuXi's goal of working with skilled partners to enhance the company's platform of technologies and capabilities to serve its customers better.

The OmniRat technology generates fully human antibodies with great specificity, affinity and manufacturability. It eliminates time-consuming humanization of traditional mouse-derived antibodies and the need for optimization of lead candidates using phage display technology.

"OMT's OmniRat technology allows WuXi to expand its service offerings in discovery of fully human antibodies," said Mr Edward Hu, COO and CFO, WuXi PharmaTech. "Providing discovery, development and manufacturing services for novel therapeutic antibodies represents an important new global business initiative for WuXi."

Dr Roland Buelow, founder and CEO, OMT, said that, "Under the collaboration, OMT can leverage WuXi's expertise and capacity to create novel therapeutic candidates for its biopharmaceutical customers and apply OMT's technology to an ever-broadening base of drug candidates."