Two researchers at Sheba Medical Center, the Medical School’s clinical training partner in Israel, have made a breakthrough in oncology.  Prof Gal Merkel and Prof Jacob Schachter have succeeded in isolating an antibody that will be used as the basis for treatment of advanced cancer patients suffering from melanoma or cancer of the lungs, urinary bladder, stomach, intestines or ovaries. The antibody that was developed is based on research that took place in the research laboratories of the Ella Lemelbaum Institute for the treatment of melanoma and skin cancer at Sheba.

For the first time in many years, the scientific development of medication in Israel has achieved international recognition and investment. Thanks to the huge investment at Sheba Medical Center, this development allows leading researchers to combine an advanced research infrastructure for immunology with an emphasis on applied medicine, by studying the clinical situation of patients.

“When this kind of research takes place at Sheba Medical Center, where patients are hospitalized and solutions have to be found, the scientist accompanies his research all the way from the laboratory to the patient’s bed: bench-to-bed, which is the essence of translational medicine that we are investing in at Sheba. This is an additional step in the integration of Sheba’s applied and scientific abilities with Israel’s pharma and biotech industry. We will continue with scientific developments that benefit those suffering from illnesses in Israel and in the entire world”, said Prof Shlomo Noy, the Vice-President of Research and Development at Sheba.

“My motive is personal, private. It does not arise from the aspiration to complete assignments successfully, but from a willingness to research processes in a way that will lead, in the end, to a genuine impact on reality”, added Prof. Gal Merkel.

The international medical company Merck has purchased the biotech company cCAM Biotherapeutics, which developed the product together with Sheba Medical Center.