Greg Winter
Encyclopedia
Sir Gregory Winter FRS is a British pioneer of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies
. He invented techniques to both humanise (1986) and, later, to fully humanise using phage display
, antibodies for therapeutic uses. Before this groundbreaking work antibodies had failed to live up to their potential because they had been derived from mice.
In 1989 Winter was a founder of Cambridge Antibody Technology
, which was one of the early commercial biotech companies involved in antibody engineering. One of the most successful antibody drugs developed was HUMIRA (adalimumab
), which was discovered by Cambridge Antibody Technology as D2E7 and developed and marketed by Abbott Laboratories
. HUMIRA, an antibody to TNF alpha, was the world's first fully human antibody, which achieved annual sales exceeding $1bn therefore achieving blockbuster status. Cambridge Antibody Technology was acquired by Astrazeneca
in 2006 for £702m.
In 2000 Winter founded a company called Domantis to pioneer the use of domain antibodies, which use only the active portion of a full-sized antibody. Domantis was acquired by the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline
in December 2006. Recently he founded another company, Bicycle Therapeutics which is trying to develop very small protein mimics based on a covalently bonded hydrophobic core.
In 1995, Winter won several international awards including the King Faisal International Prize for Medicine (Molecular Immunology) and in 1999 the Cancer Research Institute William B. Coley Award
. Winter was formerly the Joint Head of the Division of Protein and Nucleic Acid
Chemistry-Biotechnology, and is Deputy Director, at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology
, Cambridge, an institution funded by the UK Medical Research Council. He was also Deputy Director of the MRC’s Centre for Protein Engineering
until its absorption into the Laboratory of Molecular Biology
. Winter was knighted in 2004. He is a Fellow of Trinity College
, University of Cambridge. He is a member of the Advisory Council for the Campaign for Science and Engineering
.
Monoclonal antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies are monospecific antibodies that are the same because they are made by identical immune cells that are all clones of a unique parent cell....
. He invented techniques to both humanise (1986) and, later, to fully humanise using phage display
Phage display
Phage display is a method for the study of protein–protein, protein–peptide, and protein–DNA interactions that uses bacteriophages to connect proteins with the genetic information that encodes them. Phage Display was originally invented by George P...
, antibodies for therapeutic uses. Before this groundbreaking work antibodies had failed to live up to their potential because they had been derived from mice.
In 1989 Winter was a founder of Cambridge Antibody Technology
Cambridge Antibody Technology
Cambridge Antibody Technology was a biotechnology company headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom...
, which was one of the early commercial biotech companies involved in antibody engineering. One of the most successful antibody drugs developed was HUMIRA (adalimumab
Adalimumab
Adalimumab is the third TNF inhibitor, after infliximab and etanercept, to be approved in the United States. Like infliximab and etanercept, adalimumab binds to TNFα, preventing it from activating TNF receptors; adalimumab was constructed from a fully human monoclonal antibody, while infliximab...
), which was discovered by Cambridge Antibody Technology as D2E7 and developed and marketed by Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories is an American-based global, diversified pharmaceuticals and health care products company. It has 90,000 employees and operates in over 130 countries. The company headquarters are in Abbott Park, North Chicago, Illinois. The company was founded by Chicago physician, Dr....
. HUMIRA, an antibody to TNF alpha, was the world's first fully human antibody, which achieved annual sales exceeding $1bn therefore achieving blockbuster status. Cambridge Antibody Technology was acquired by Astrazeneca
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries...
in 2006 for £702m.
In 2000 Winter founded a company called Domantis to pioneer the use of domain antibodies, which use only the active portion of a full-sized antibody. Domantis was acquired by the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
in December 2006. Recently he founded another company, Bicycle Therapeutics which is trying to develop very small protein mimics based on a covalently bonded hydrophobic core.
In 1995, Winter won several international awards including the King Faisal International Prize for Medicine (Molecular Immunology) and in 1999 the Cancer Research Institute William B. Coley Award
William B. Coley Award
The William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic and Tumor Immunology is presented annually by the Cancer Research Institute, Inc., to scientists who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of basic and tumor immunology and whose work has deepened our understanding of the...
. Winter was formerly the Joint Head of the Division of Protein and Nucleic Acid
Nucleic acid
Nucleic acids are biological molecules essential for life, and include DNA and RNA . Together with proteins, nucleic acids make up the most important macromolecules; each is found in abundance in all living things, where they function in encoding, transmitting and expressing genetic information...
Chemistry-Biotechnology, and is Deputy Director, at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Laboratory of Molecular Biology
The Laboratory of Molecular Biology is a research institute in Cambridge, England, which was at the forefront of the revolution in molecular biology which occurred in the 1950–60s, since then it remains a major medical research laboratory with a much broader focus.-Early beginnings: 1947-61:Max...
, Cambridge, an institution funded by the UK Medical Research Council. He was also Deputy Director of the MRC’s Centre for Protein Engineering
Protein engineering
Protein engineering is the process of developing useful or valuable proteins. It is a young discipline, with much research taking place into the understanding of protein folding and recognition for protein design principles....
until its absorption into the Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Laboratory of Molecular Biology
The Laboratory of Molecular Biology is a research institute in Cambridge, England, which was at the forefront of the revolution in molecular biology which occurred in the 1950–60s, since then it remains a major medical research laboratory with a much broader focus.-Early beginnings: 1947-61:Max...
. Winter was knighted in 2004. He is a Fellow of Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, University of Cambridge. He is a member of the Advisory Council for the Campaign for Science and Engineering
Campaign for Science and Engineering
The Campaign for Science and Engineering is a non-profit organization which promotes science and engineering in the UK. It focuses on arguing for more research funding, promoting a high-tech and knowledge-based economy, highlighting the need for top-quality science and maths education at all...
.