Sigma-Aldrich has entered into a five-year collaboration to develop optimal cell lines for the production of monoclonal antibodies. Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco will lead the research into antibodies for a variety of cancer targets, autoimmune diseases, stem cell characteristics and commonly neglected disease targets, according to a company statement.

Under the terms of the agreement, research targets will be determined by a steering committee composed of leading scientists at UCSF, including Lewis Lanier, Ph.D. Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Microbiology & Immunology; Jeffrey Bluestone, Ph.D. Director, UCSF Diabetes Center; and Susan Fisher, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Cell & Tissue Biology. The committee will direct research into antibodies for cancer targets, stem cell surface markers and autoimmune disease targets. The University will have free access to the antibodies resulting from the partnership for its ongoing immunology and disease research.

“Sigma-Aldrich is committed to developing the most comprehensive and highly validated collection of monoclonal antibodies available for the cell biology research community,” said Dr. David Smoller, President of Sigma-Aldrich’s Research Biotech Business Unit. “By partnering with the highly regarded UCSF research team, Sigma-Aldrich is helping to further promote the study of a number of important cancer targets, regenerative medicine applications and neglected diseases.”

Sigma-Aldrich is expanding its antibody content offering as part of its plan to become a leading developer and manufacturer of the next generation of monoclonal antibody products for life science researchers. Earlier this year, the company announced a partnership to distribute the highly-validated Prestige antibodies powered by Atlas Antibodies, the commercial arm of the Human Proteome Resource. The company is also collaborating with AbD Serotec, a Division of MorphoSys, to design, produce and distribute unique recombinant research antibodies using MorphoSys’s proprietary HuCAL GOLD technology.