| |
ThromboGenics and BioInvent to Receive €10 Million Milestone as Partner Roche Begins New Clinical Study with TB-403
Trial to study patients with colorectal and ovarian cancer
Leuven, Belgium and Lund, Sweden – 17 May 2010 – ThromboGenics NV (Euronext Brussels: THR) and BioInvent International AB (OMXS: BINV) announce today that their partner Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) will begin an imaging study with the novel anti-cancer antibody TB-403 (RG7334) in patients with metastatic, treatment-refractory, colorectal and ovarian cancers. ThromboGenics and co-development partner BioInvent will receive a milestone payment of €10 million from Roche under the terms of the strategic alliance agreement signed in June 2008. ThromboGenics, which discovered TB-403, receives 60% and BioInvent 40% of all revenue from the alliance with Roche for this anti-cancer antibody.
This trial is a multi-centre, open-label (monotherapy), dose-finding study with intravenous TB-403. The primary objective of the study will be to establish the TB-403 concentration-pharmacodynamic (PD) effect relationship using DCE-MRI (dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging) and to identify the minimally PD effective dose. The trial will recruit up to 50 patients across three European sites.
With the start of this study, Roche will assume responsibility for all future development of TB-403, continuing the work started by ThromboGenics and BioInvent. A Joint Steering Committee made up of representatives from Roche, ThromboGenics and BioInvent will continue to oversee research and development activities. In addition, Roche will continue to provide funding to ThromboGenics and BioInvent for research activities related to TB-403.
A Phase I trial found that TB-403 was well tolerated with no reported dose limiting toxicity. The results from this Phase I study were presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Boston, U.S. in November 2009.
Dr. Patrik De Haes, CEO of ThromboGenics commented, “We are very pleased to report today’s important milestone as a result of Roche’s decision to move forward with the development of TB-403. The fact that Roche has initiated this study marks a positive turning point, indicating that ThromboGenics and BioInvent have successfully completed their responsibilities for clinical development. We have always maintained that this selective anti-angiogenic therapy could play an important role in the treatment of cancer, and we very much look forward to reporting the results of this trial.”
Svein Mathisen, CEO of BioInvent, commented: “This important milestone underpins our belief that TB-403 could become an important product for the treatment of cancer. The Roche alliance has so far generated €65 million in revenues to date to ThromboGenics and BioInvent. In the short term, we expect additional payments to be made, as Roche progresses this product through early stage development. In total, there is the potential for a further €435 million in milestone payments plus product royalties.”
Notes to Editors
The novel mechanism of action of TB-403 represents a potentially promising cancer therapy. It is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed towards placental growth factor (PIGF), expected to act by blocking the formation of the new blood vessels that are required for tumour growth. Preclinical exploration of PIGF biology suggests a role in tumour angiogenesis and metastasis and a limited role in the maintenance of normal vasculature. This mode of action could result in therapeutic benefit with an acceptable side effect profile.
Legal disclaimer
This press release contains statements about the future, consisting of subjective assumptions and forecasts for future scenarios. Predictions for the future only apply as of the date they are made and are, by their very nature, in the same way as research and development work in the biotech segment, associated with risk and uncertainty. With this in mind, the actual outcome may deviate significantly from the scenarios described in this press release.
About ThromboGenics
ThromboGenics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines for the treatment of eye disease, vascular disease and cancer. The Company’s lead product microplasmin has completed its first Phase III clinical trial for the non-surgical treatment of back of the eye diseases. Microplasmin is also being evaluated in Phase II clinical development for additional vitreoretinal conditions. In addition, ThromboGenics is developing novel antibody therapeutics in collaboration with BioInvent International; these include TB-402 (anti-Factor VIII), a long acting anti-coagulant, and TB-403 (anti-PlGF) for cancer in partnership with Roche.
ThromboGenics is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium. The Company is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Brussels under the symbol THR. More information is available at www.thrombogenics.com.
About BioInvent
BioInvent International AB, listed on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm (BINV), is a research-based pharmaceutical company that focuses on developing antibody drugs. The Company currently has four clinical development projects within the areas of thrombosis, cancer and atherosclerosis. The Company has signed various strategic alliances around these product candidates and is developing them in collaboration with partners including Genentech, Roche and ThromboGenics.
These projects are based around a competitive and in substance patented antibody development platform. The scope and strength of this platform is also utilised by partners, such as ALK-Abelló, Bayer HealthCare, Daiichi Sankyo, ImmunoGen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, OrbusNeich, UCB and XOMA.
More information is available at www.bioinvent.com.
Company
ThromboGenics
Dr. Patrik De Haes, CEO
Tel: + 32 16 75 13 10
patrik.dehaes@thrombogenics.com
Stuart Laermer
Chief Business Officer
Tel: + 1 (212) 201-0920
Stuart.Laermer@thrombogenics.com
US Investors
Rhonda Chiger
917-322-2569
rchiger@rxir.com
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Amber Bielecka, David Dible, Nina Enegren
Tel: +44 (0) 207 638 95 71
E-mail: amber.bielecka@citigatedr.co.uk
Svein Mathisen
President & CEO
Tel: +46 (0) 46-286 85 67
Mobile: +46 (0) 708-97 82 13
Email: svein.mathisen@bioinvent.com
|
|
