In July 2009, in a $2Bn cash transaction, Medarex was acquired by Bristol-Myers. Medarex Inc R&D had been organized around natural processes by which antibodies elicit effective immune responses against foreign pathogens and tumor cells. Also worked inthe prevention and treatment of eye disorders. Company is applying its proprietary technology to design and develop antibody-based products for the treatment of AIDS, cancer and autoimmune disorders. Products and services are sold to the medical industry. Medarex and its subsidiaries use monoclonal antibody and immunology technologies to discover and develop treatments for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and other life-threatening disorders. Products are designed either to block "bad" or to trigger and enhance "good" immune system responses. Many in late-stage clinical testing for FDA approval, some products target cancers (prostate, colon, kidney) and tumors (head, neck, kidney); others are designed to treat glaucoma, secondary cataracts, and a type of acute leukemia. Medarex also clones human monoclonal antibodies for itself and its partners, including Merck and Novartis. Medarex has acquired two SBIR firms - Houston Biotechnology and GenPharm
