Maxim Receives Patent for Identifying Immunosuppressive Agents

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued Maxim Pharmaceuticals a patent covering a method for identifying therapeutically active immunosuppressive agents by screening for compounds that induce apoptosis in activated T or B cells.

Maxim's screening technology enables researchers to identify new cancer drug candidates and molecular targets that selectively induce apoptosis -- the natural process of programmed cell death -- in cancer cells through the use of chemical genetics.

"Our proprietary screening technology allows Maxim to find compounds that selectively suppress activated T or B cells and identify those holding promise as potential immunosuppressive drugs," said Ben Tseng, Maxim's vice president of research. "While our primary focus will remain on the research and development of compounds that induce apoptosis in cancer cells, we will also work to exploit the broader applications of our technology platform."