Medarex

Medarex is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the discovery, development, and potential commercialization of fully human antibody-based therapeutics to treat life-threatening and debilitating diseases, including cancer, inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. Medarex was acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2009.

History

Medarex was founded in 1987 in Annandale, New Jersey. The company's initial focus was on the development of monoclonal antibodies, a type of protein that the immune system naturally produces to fight off harmful substances. Medarex developed a technology called UltiMAb Human Antibody Development System, which allowed the company to create fully human antibodies that could be used as therapeutic agents.

In 2009, Medarex was acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb, a global biopharmaceutical company, for approximately $2.4 billion. This acquisition expanded Bristol-Myers Squibb's biologics business and strengthened its product portfolio and pipeline.

Products and Research

Medarex has developed several notable products, including Ipilimumab, a drug used to treat melanoma. Ipilimumab, marketed under the brand name Yervoy, was the first drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

Medarex's research and development efforts are focused on the use of monoclonal antibodies to engage the body's immune system to fight disease. The company's UltiMAb platform has been used to generate a broad pipeline of therapeutic product candidates.

See Also

• Monoclonal antibodies
• Bristol-Myers Squibb
• Ipilimumab