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Agonist |
In pharmacology, an agonist is a substance capable of binding to a specific receptor to initiate a desired biological response e.g. expansion of the cells that fight infection
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Amino acid |
Building block of peptides/proteins |
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Analogue |
Similar in chemical and physical structure |
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Antibody |
Immune or protective protein |
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Antigen |
The substance, usually protein based, that stimulates production of antibodies so as to meet the perceived threat |
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Anti-TNF |
The core intellectual property of Arana, which encompasses antibodies that can bind to TNF and neutralise it |
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Autoimmune Disease |
A disease in which the body’s immune system is turned on itself |
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| B |
Binding ligand |
A molecule that attaches specifically to an active biological molecule or receptor by chemical bonds |
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| C |
CDP-870 |
Also known as Cimzia. Cimzia (UCB) is a PEGylated Fab’ fragment of a humanized anti-TNF alpha antibody. |
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Chimaeric (Chimeric) |
An antibody that combines elements from human and animal antibodies |
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Crohn’s Disease |
A chronic disorder of the bowels, with similar causes to Rheumatoid Arthritis. |
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Cytokine |
Molecules in the human body that regulate immunity. TNF and IL-1 are cytokines. |
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| D |
D2E7 |
The code name for adalimumab, an anti-Rheumatoid Arthritis drug from Abbott Laboratories marketed as Humira |
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DMARDs |
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, the ‘second line’ treatment for sufferers of Rheumatoid Arthritis after NSAIDs |
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DNA |
Short for deoxyribonucleic acid, a molecule that encodes operating instructions for our bodies |
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Domain antibody |
The smallest antigen binding portion of an antibody |
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| E |
Enbrel |
An anti-TNF drug for the treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis |
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Epitope |
The shape or pocket on the surface of an antigen that triggers a corresponding antibody response. The various monoclonal antibodies representing Arana’s anti-TNF intellectual property recognise different epitopes in the TNF molecule |
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| F |
FDA |
The Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. government pharmaceuticals regulatory body |
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| G |
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| H |
Hormone |
Proteins that are chemical messengers in the body |
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Humanised |
Antibodies in which the animal component has been reduced to perhaps one-tenth of the whole antibody molecule |
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| I |
Immunogenic |
Having properties of an antigen i.e. able to stimulate an immune response |
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Immunoglobulin |
An antibody protein. There are five different types, known as IgG, IgA, IgD, IgM and IgE. The immunoglobulin used in both Humira and Remicade is IgG |
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Immunosuppressant |
A drug that suppresses the natural functioning of the immune system, used mainly to reduce the chance of rejection of a transplanted organ |
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Interleukin |
see cytokine |
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| J |
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| K |
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| L |
Lead |
A treatment idea that has shown enough promise to warrant being followed up some more |
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Ligand |
A molecule that binds to another molecule. Arana's 'TNF binding ligand' intellectual property represents various molecules (in this case, antibodies) with the ability to bind to TNF |
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| M |
Methotrexate |
A well-known DMARD that is generally taken orally. Methotrexate was first put into clinical use in the 1950s as an anti-cancer drug but its Rheumatoid Arthritis application didn't start until the early 1980s |
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Monoclonal Antibodies |
'Pure' antibodies that are specifically designed to target a particular antigen |
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Murine |
From mice. The mouse has been the source of monoclonal antibodies since their discovery; in the mid 1970s |
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| N |
National Phase |
The taking of a PCT Application to an individual patent office |
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Notice of Allowance |
Advice from the U.S. Patent Office of that Office's intention to grant a patent |
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NSAIDs |
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the 'first line' treatment for sufferers of Rheumatoid Arthritis |
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| O |
Osteoprotegerin |
A protein that plays a central role in regulating bone mass |
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| P |
PCT Application |
An application for a patent under the rules of the Patent Cooperation Treaty; that patent provides the 'common platform', from which applications for patents can be made to the individual national patent offices |
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Peptide |
Two or more amino acids linked by chemical bonds |
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Phage |
A bacterial virus used in antibody research and engineering Phage Display. The use of phage to create an antibody library is a key step in the engineering of DAbs and full antibodies |
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Phase |
One of several trials a drug makes on the road to being approved. Broadly speaking Phase I is designed to test if the drug is safe, Phase II if it is efficacious in a small sample and Phase III if it is efficacious in a large sample |
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Pipeline |
The drug candidates a company has in its portfolio at various stages of clinical or pre-clinical work |
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Placebo |
An inert substance given as a medicine during clinical trials for its suggestive effect |
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Platform |
A collection of technologies that speeds the task of drug research |
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Polypeptide |
A large peptide |
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Priority Date |
The date on which a provisional application for a patent was first filed |
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Protein |
A class of fairly common molecules in the human body that includes antibodies hormones and enzymes |
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Psoriasis |
A chronic skin disease, which sees the sufferer developing unsightly patches of raised red skin covered by a flaky white build-up. The disease is believed to have the same root cause as Rheumatoid Arthritis |
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| Q |
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| R |
Receptor |
A part of a cell or molecule that enables it to bind to another cell or molecule |
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Recombinant DNA |
DNA that has been cut and spliced in order to alter the genetic code (introduce a gene(s) that codes for a protein not normally found in the organism) |
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Remicade |
A Johnson & Johnson (Centocor) anti-TNF antibody for the treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis. |
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Rheumatoid Arthritis |
An autoimmune disease chronic inflammation of the joints, causing pain, swelling and stiffness |
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| S |
Subcutaneous |
Beneath the skin |
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Synovium |
The membrane that surrounds each joint in the body. This is what becomes inflamed in Rheumatoid Arthritis |
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| T |
Target |
A disease, or cause of a disease that a drug development team is aiming to develop treatments for. |
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TGA |
Therapeutic Goods Authority (Australia) |
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TNF |
Tumour necrosis factor, a cytokine molecule that initiates various biological effects in the body, including inflammation |
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TNF receptor |
Molecules in the body that bind to TNF. When on the surface of an immune system cell, the binding of the TNF to the receptor starts to send signals that cause inflammation. |
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Topographic region |
The area on the TNF molecule that a particular Arana monoclonal antibody binds to. The region is denoted by the numbers of the residues in the areas concerned |
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