On The Move
Charleston Ear, Nose and Throat and SC Launch Company Immunologix, Inc. Team Up to Supply Human Tonsil Tissue for Lifesaving Research
Sep 2, 2010
CHARLESTON, SC - August 30, 2010 - 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, (pictured left) 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."
Charleston Ear, Nose and Throat Associates
Charleston Ear, Nose and Throat Associates, is the largest
private ENT practice in South Carolina, and continues to lead the way in
their field by providing superior patient care from nine board
certified physicians within seven different locations, including
Charleston, West Ashley, Summerville, Mount Pleasant, Goose Creek and
Monks Corner and at their own Surgery Center dedicated exclusively to
ENT patients. Visit Charleston ENT online at www.CharlestonENT.com.
SC Launch
SC Launch, an SCRA program, assists entrepreneurial
start-up companies with up-front counseling, seed-funding, and access to
a powerful resource network. The SC Launch mission is to help generate
knowledge economy jobs in South Carolina, enhance the state's quality of
life and provide opportunity for all South Carolinians in the new
economy. Visit SC Launch online at www.sclaunch.org.
Immunologix is a trademark of Immunologix, Inc.
