Morphotek has received $1.7 million in funding approval from the Defense Department to further develop biologic-based monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies targeting staphylococcal toxins as well as staph itself for the treatment of infectious diseases. Morphotek says it has developed multiple mAbs that are able to bind and neutralize the toxic effects elicited by microbial pathogens and is applying its technology to generate potent therapeutic mAbs to treat diseases caused by potential bio-warfare pathogens. Morphotek is a subsidiary of Eisai Corp. of North America, a division of Japan’s Eisai Co., Ltd.