Abgenix

Abgenix was a biopharmaceutical company specialising in monoclonal antibodies. The company was founded in 1995 in Fremont, California by four entrepreneurs who funded the company with around $1 million of their own money. 

Abgenix's XenoMouse technology enables the company to produce fully-human antibodies that are designed to recognize and bind to specific human antigens. Abgenix has been involved in a number of collaborations and partnerships with other biopharmaceutical companies, including Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Merck.

Abgenix Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company founded in 1995 and based in Fremont, California. The company was founded to develop and commercialize monoclonal antibody therapeutics that have the potential to treat a wide range of diseases.

Abgenix is focused on developing therapeutic antibodies to treat cancer, inflammation, and infectious diseases. Its technology platform is based on XenoMouse, an engineered mouse strain developed by Abgenix scientists. The XenoMouse carries human antibody genes, which allow it to produce human antibodies when stimulated with antigens.

Abgenix has achieved a number of milestones since its founding, including the first clinical trials of its lead product, ABX-EGF, in 2001. In 2003, the company acquired Antigenics, a cancer immunotherapy company, and in 2005, Abgenix and its partner, Amgen, received FDA approval for the first monoclonal antibody therapy, Vectibix (panitumumab).

Abgenix has also developed multiple other therapeutic antibodies, several of which are in clinical trials. These include ABX-IL8, an anti-inflammatory antibody, and ABX-CD40, an antibody targeting the CD40 molecule, which is involved in many autoimmune diseases.

Abgenix was acquired by Amgen in 2006 for $2.2 billion. Since the acquisition, Abgenix’s technology platform has been used to develop a number of Amgen’s therapeutic antibodies, including Enbrel (etanercept) and Neulasta (pegfilgrastim).

“Our mission is to discover and develop novel therapeutic proteins that can meet unmet healthcare needs.”

“To be a leader in the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutics for the global healthcare market.”