Haptogen

Haptogen was a Scottish biotechnology company specializing in the discovery and development of next-generation antibody-based therapeutics. Spun out from the University of Aberdeen in 2002, the company focused on engineering small, robust antibody fragments capable of binding to challenging targets such as haptens and small molecules. A key area of their research was 'quorum quenching,' which involved using antibodies to neutralize the signaling molecules bacteria use to coordinate infections, particularly in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This innovative approach aimed to treat chronic infections and inflammation without the selection pressure of traditional antibiotics. In 2007, Haptogen was acquired by Wyeth, and its technology was subsequently integrated into Pfizer following Pfizer's acquisition of Wyeth in 2009.