- Companies to Generate and Evaluate Compounds for
Potential Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases -
GAITHERSBURG, Md. and BERLIN, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GenPat77
announced today that it has granted MedImmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: MEDI) an
exclusive license to GenPat77's proprietary TIRC7 program, currently in
preclinical development. The collaboration calls for the identification and
development of biologics and small molecules targeting TIRC7, a molecule that
is implicated in immune regulation, and therefore may be useful in the
treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other immunological
diseases.
Under the terms of the agreement, MedImmune will be responsible for all
clinical development, manufacturing and worldwide commercialization of any
products resulting from the program. GenPat77 will receive an upfront payment
and funding for associated preclinical research and development activities.
GenPat77 also will receive future milestone payments and royalties based on
the successful development, filing, registration and marketing of products
resulting from the program.
"We are very excited about this collaboration," said Dr. Nalan Utku,
president and chief executive officer of GenPat77. "MedImmune is a leading
biotechnology company with significant experience in the development of
biologics. Future treatments targeting TIRC7 will be designed to address unmet
needs in the field of immune disorders."
"Entering into this agreement with GenPat77 is very important to MedImmune
as we seek to expand the breadth and depth of our product pipeline with
promising targets and technologies," stated Edward T. Mathers, MedImmune's
vice president of corporate development.
About TIRC7
TIRC7, which is expressed on subsets of T and B cells, is a molecule
recently identified by GenPat77's founding scientist. Analysis of the
phenotype of TIRC7 in null mice and studies with anti-TIRC7 antibodies
indicate that TIRC7 may play a critical role in the negative regulation of
immune responses.
About GenPat77 AG
GenPat77, based in Berlin, Germany, is a pharmaceutical company focused on
research and development of innovative immune modulatory therapeutics. Based
on a fundamental understanding of the human immune system, GenPat77 develops
novel biopharmaceutical drugs to address significant unmet medical needs in
diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel
disease, and transplant rejection. The company was founded in Berlin (1998)
based on exclusively licensed intellectual property rights on immune related
targets from Brigham and Women's Hospital, an affiliate Hospital of Harvard
Medical School, MA, Boston, USA. For further information visit the company's
website at http://www.genpat77.com.
About MedImmune, Inc.
MedImmune strives to provide better medicines to patients, new medical
options for physicians, rewarding careers to employees, and increased value to
shareholders. Dedicated to advancing science and medicine to help people live
better lives, the company is focused on the areas of pediatric infectious
diseases, cancer and inflammatory diseases. With approximately 1,900
employees worldwide, MedImmune is headquartered in Maryland. For more
information, visit the company's website at http://www.medimmune.com.
This announcement may contain, in addition to historical information,
certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such
statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain
assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from those currently
anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including risks and
uncertainties discussed in MedImmune's filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. The company is developing several products for potential
future marketing. There can be no assurance that such development efforts
will succeed, that such products will receive required regulatory clearance or
that, even if such regulatory clearance is received, such products will
ultimately achieve commercial success.
SOURCE MedImmune, Inc.
-0- 09/30/2004
/CONTACT: Media: Jamie Lacey, +1-301-398-4035, or Investors: Peter Vozzo,
+1-301-398-4358, or John Filler, +1-301-398-4086, all of MedImmune, Inc.; or
Media and Investors: Fritz Kopitzki, +49-302-462-6680, of GenPat77 AG/
/Web site: http://www.medimmune.com
http://www.genpat77.com /
(MEDI)
CO: MedImmune, Inc.; GenPat77 AG; GenPat77
ST: Maryland, Germany
IN: HEA MTC
SU: LIC
JL-MV
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