Tanox
Encyclopedia
Tanox was a biopharmaceutical
company based in Houston, Texas
. The company was founded by two biomedical research scientists, Nancy T. Chang and Tse Wen Chang in March 1986. Nancy was the President and CEO of the company in its 21 year history, while Tse Wen was responsible for creating most of the company's proprietary technology and patents
. Tanox's major technology was based on a series of inventions and a family of dominant patents pertaining to the use of humanized antibodies
for targeting IgE
and IgE-expressing B lymphocytes for the treatment of allergic diseases.
Tanox started the anti-IgE program and developed prototype antibody candidates in 1987. It formed a collaborative partnership with Ciba-Geigy in 1990 to jointly develop the anti-IgE program (Ciba-Geigy merged with Sandoz
to form Novartis
in 1996). The Phase I clinical trial of CGP-51901, the chimeric antibody form of the humanized anti-IgE antibody, TNX-901, was carried out in Southampton, England in 1991. A successful Phase II trial in patients with severe allergic rhinitis
toward mountain cedar pollens was performed in three medical centers in Texas in 1994-1995. In 1996, Tanox, Novartis, and Genentech
formed a tripartite partnership to develop the anti-IgE program. A humanized anti-IgE antibody from Genentech, omalizumab
, with identical binding characteristics as TNX-901, was chosen by a joint program steering committee for further development, because it had a better developed manufacturing process.
Omalizumab, with the trade name Xolair, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003 for use in patients 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe allergic asthma
. It was subsequently approved in the European Union
and many other countries for patients 12 years and older with severe allergic asthma. Tanox held an initial public offering
and was listed in the NASDAQ
in 2000. It was acquired by Genentech in August 2007 (Genentech itself became wholly owned by Roche in March 2009).
drugs Tanox developed by itself or with corporate partners:
Biopharmaceutical
Biopharmaceuticals are medical drugs produced using biotechnology. They include proteins , nucleic acids and living microorganisms like virus and bacteria where the virulence of viruses and bacteria is reduced by the process of attenuation, they can be used for therapeutic or in vivo diagnostic...
company based in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. The company was founded by two biomedical research scientists, Nancy T. Chang and Tse Wen Chang in March 1986. Nancy was the President and CEO of the company in its 21 year history, while Tse Wen was responsible for creating most of the company's proprietary technology and patents
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
. Tanox's major technology was based on a series of inventions and a family of dominant patents pertaining to the use of humanized antibodies
Humanized antibody
Humanized antibodies are antibodies from non-human species whose protein sequences have been modified to increase their similarity to antibody variants produced naturally in humans. The process of "humanization" is usually applied to monoclonal antibodies developed for administration to humans...
for targeting IgE
IGE
IGE was one of the largest services company buying and selling virtual currencies and accounts for MMORPG. During its peak time, it had offices in Los Angeles, China , and headquarters & customer service centre in Hong Kong. IGE was one of the main monopoly in virtual economy services, also known...
and IgE-expressing B lymphocytes for the treatment of allergic diseases.
Tanox started the anti-IgE program and developed prototype antibody candidates in 1987. It formed a collaborative partnership with Ciba-Geigy in 1990 to jointly develop the anti-IgE program (Ciba-Geigy merged with Sandoz
Sandoz
Founded in 2003, Sandoz presently is the generic drug subsidiary of Novartis, a multinational pharmaceutical company. The company develops, manufactures and markets generic drugs as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnological active ingredients....
to form Novartis
Novartis
Novartis International AG is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, ranking number three in sales among the world-wide industry...
in 1996). The Phase I clinical trial of CGP-51901, the chimeric antibody form of the humanized anti-IgE antibody, TNX-901, was carried out in Southampton, England in 1991. A successful Phase II trial in patients with severe allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis, also known as pollenosis or hay fever, is an allergic inflammation of the nasal airways.It occurs when an allergen, such as pollen, dust or animal dander is inhaled by an individual with a sensitized immune system...
toward mountain cedar pollens was performed in three medical centers in Texas in 1994-1995. In 1996, Tanox, Novartis, and Genentech
Genentech
Genentech Inc., or Genetic Engineering Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology corporation, founded in 1976 by venture capitalist Robert A. Swanson and biochemist Dr. Herbert Boyer. Trailing the founding of Cetus by five years, it was an important step in the evolution of the biotechnology industry...
formed a tripartite partnership to develop the anti-IgE program. A humanized anti-IgE antibody from Genentech, omalizumab
Omalizumab
Omalizumab is a humanized antibody drug approved for patients with moderate-to-severe or severe allergic asthma, which is caused by hypersensitivity reactions to certain harmless environmental substances...
, with identical binding characteristics as TNX-901, was chosen by a joint program steering committee for further development, because it had a better developed manufacturing process.
Omalizumab, with the trade name Xolair, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003 for use in patients 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe allergic asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
. It was subsequently approved in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and many other countries for patients 12 years and older with severe allergic asthma. Tanox held an initial public offering
Initial public offering
An initial public offering or stock market launch, is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public. It can be used by either small or large companies to raise expansion capital and become publicly traded enterprises...
and was listed in the NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
in 2000. It was acquired by Genentech in August 2007 (Genentech itself became wholly owned by Roche in March 2009).
Drugs
Among the humanized antibodyHumanized antibody
Humanized antibodies are antibodies from non-human species whose protein sequences have been modified to increase their similarity to antibody variants produced naturally in humans. The process of "humanization" is usually applied to monoclonal antibodies developed for administration to humans...
drugs Tanox developed by itself or with corporate partners:
- OmalizumabOmalizumabOmalizumab is a humanized antibody drug approved for patients with moderate-to-severe or severe allergic asthma, which is caused by hypersensitivity reactions to certain harmless environmental substances...
, trade name Xolair - TNX-901
- TNX-355
- TNX-650TNX-650TNX-650 is a medication for refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma under development by Tanox. , a phase 1/2 clinical trial is recruiting participants.It is a monoclonal antibody which blocks interleukin 13....