BioWa and Aphton Announce Licensing of BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM) Technology; Aphton to Use BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM) Antibody Technology for Development of Preclinical IGN312 Anti-Lewis Y antibody.PRINCETON, N.J. & PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- BioWa, Inc. and Aphton Corporation (Pink Sheets:APHT APHT Advance Physical Test ) today announced that BioWa has granted a non-exclusive license to Apthon's wholly-owned subsidiary, Igeneon, to use BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM) technology for the development of IGN IGN Ignored (Status) IGN Institut Geographique National IGN Ignition IGN Instituto Geografico Nacional (Spain) IGN Imagine Games Network IGN In-Game Name (gaming) 312, a humanized monoclonal Lewis Y-specific antibody. Aphton, through Igeneon, develops IGN312 as a next-generation antibody based on IGN311, which is currently in a Phase I/II clinical trial in patients with Lewis Y-positive cancers. Aphton plans to use BioWa's POTELLIGENT technology for the development of a next-generation Lewis Y-specific antibody with enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity cytotoxicity /cy·to·tox·ic·i·ty/ (si?to-tok-sis´i-te) the degree to which an agent possesses a specific destructive action on certain cells or the possession of such action. (ADCC ADCC antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. ADCC antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. ). Lewis Y is a tumor-related antigen expressed in up to 90% of all epithelial cancers, which include breast, colon, gastric and pancreatic cancers. BioWa's POTELLIGENT technology has the potential to increase the ADCC activity of an antibody, resulting in greater capacity to destroy tumor cells. "We are very pleased to be working with an innovative cancer immunotherapy Cancer immunotherapy is the use of the immune system to reject cancer. The main premise is stimulating the patient's immune system to attack the malignant tumor cells that are responsible for the disease. company like Igeneon, who has successfully progressed its antibody program to the clinical stage," said Nobuo Hanai, Ph.D., President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of BioWa, Inc. "This licensing agreement enforces BioWa's strategy to bring about more effective and safe treatments for cancer." "We look forward to the rapid application of the POTELLIGENT technology, which has the potential to effectively increase the potency of IGN312 as an anti-cancer treatment," said Patrick Mooney, MD, Chairman and CEO of Aphton Corporation. "Entering into this partnership with BioWa is an important step in our efforts to continue to develop promising product candidates to fuel our clinical pipeline in the future." This agreement was mediated by FHR FHR Fetal heart rate, see there Consult (http://www.fhrconsult.com) on behalf of BioWa. About IGN311 and IGN312 IGN311 is a humanized monoclonal antibody monoclonal antibody, an antibody that is mass produced in the laboratory from a single clone and that recognizes only one antigen. Monoclonal antibodies are typically made by fusing a normally short-lived, antibody-producing B cell (see immunity) to a fast-growing against the Lewis Y carbohydrate antigen, a blood-group-related oligosaccharide oligosaccharide: see carbohydrate. oligosaccharide Any carbohydrate with a few (between 3 and about 6 to 10) units of simple sugars (monosaccharides). A wide variety of oligosaccharides are made by partially breaking down polysaccharides. . Lewis Y is over-expressed in up to 90% of all epithelial cancers and its expression on adult normal tissues is very restricted; hence IGN311 has the potential to target a broad range of carcinomas. IGN311 is designed to exert clinical effects by destruction of tumor cells by activation of effector effector /ef·fec·tor/ (e-fek´ter) 1. an agent that mediates a specific effect. 2. an organ that produces an effect in response to nerve stimulation. functions and by selective growth inhibition Growth inhibition (GI) is a medical term pertaining to cancer therapy and the specific reduction in growth of tumors and oncogene cells by a chemical compound, mechanical therapy (e.g. via functional receptors. IGN312 is a next-generation antibody based on IGN311. About Aphton Corporation Aphton Corporation, headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer. Aphton's products seek to empower the body's own immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. to fight disease. Through the acquisition of Igeneon AG in March 2005, Aphton acquired late-stage products, IGN101, a cancer vaccine designed to induce an immune response immune response n. An integrated bodily response to an antigen, especially one mediated by lymphocytes and involving recognition of antigens by specific antibodies or previously sensitized lymphocytes. against EpCAM-positive tumor cells, as well as IGN311 and IGN312. Aphton has strategic alliances with Xoma for treating gastrointestinal and other gastrin-sensitive cancers using anti-gastrin monoclonal and other antibodies; Daiichi Pure Chemicals for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of gastrin-related diagnostic kits; and Celltrion for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of IGN311 in certain countries in Asia. Aphton's most advanced product, Insegia(TM), targets the hormone, gastrin 17, in an attempt to treat gastrointestinal cancers. Aphton is currently seeking partners to support the further development of Insegia. For more information about Aphton or its programs please visit Aphton's website at http://www.aphton.com. About POTELLIGENT(TM) Technology ADCC activity is an important function of the human immune system, whereby immune cells can kill target cells, e.g. cancer cells. As demonstrated by several anti-cancer therapeutic antibodies in the market today, ADCC activity plays a critical mechanism in the killing of tumor cells. Enhancement of this activity is one promising approach in the next generation of antibody technologies. POTELLIGENT technology involves the reduction of the amount of fucose fucose /fu·cose/ (fu´kos) a monosaccharide occurring as l-fucose in a number of oligo- and polysaccharides and fucosides and in the carbohydrate portion of some mucopolysaccharides and glycoproteins, including the A, B, and O blood group in the carbohydrate structure of an antibody. Research shows that POTELLIGENT technology significantly enhances ADCC activity in vitro in vitro /in vi·tro/ (in ve´tro) [L.] within a glass; observable in a test tube; in an artificial environment. in vi·tro adj. In an artificial environment outside a living organism. and in vivo in vivo /in vi·vo/ (ve´vo) [L.] within the living body. in vi·vo adj. Within a living organism. in vivo adv. . One potential benefit of POTELLIGENT technology derived therapeutic antibodies is greater tumor-cell-killing activity than with conventional antibodies. About BioWa, Inc. BioWa, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd., Japan's leading pharmaceutical and largest biotech company. BioWa is the exclusive worldwide licensor of POTELLIGENT technology, which creates high ADCC monoclonal antibodies. BioWa is currently developing ADCC enhanced monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics to fight cancer, asthma and other life-threatening and debilitating de·bil·i·tat·ing adj. Causing a loss of strength or energy. Debilitating Weakening, or reducing the strength of. Mentioned in: Stress Reduction diseases and both BioWa and Kyowa have POTELLIGENT antibody products in various clinical stages. BioWa creates and develops enhanced ADCC antibodies for itself and others, offering a full range of antibody discovery and development capabilities. For more information about BioWa visit its web site at http://www.biowa.com. POTELLIGENT(TM) is the trademark of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. All rights are reserved. Safe Harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements about Aphton's expectations regarding: (1) Aphton's plan to use BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM) technology for the development of a next-generation Lewis Y-specific antibody with enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity; (2) the potential of BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM) technology to increase the ADCC activity of an antibody, resulting in greater capacity to destroy tumor cells; (3) the potential benefits to Aphton resulting from the licensing agreement, including the rapid application of the POTELLIGENT(TM) technology in an attempt to effectively increase the potency of IGN312 as an anti-cancer treatment; (4) Aphton's belief that this new relationship with BioWa is an important first step in Aphton's efforts to continue to develop promising product candidates to fuel Aphton's clinical pipeline in the future; (5) the potential of IGN311 to target a broad range of carcinomas, destroy tumor cells, and exert clinical effects by destruction of tumor cells; and (6) Aphton's intent to seek partners to further support the development of Insegia. These forward-looking statements may be affected by risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Aphton undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. This information is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk-factor disclosure contained in Aphton's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including Aphton's report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. filed with the Commission on March 16, 2005. These risk factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the risks and uncertainties inherent in the drug development process and in Aphton's business; (2) the ability of Aphton and BioWa to successfully collaborate in the research and development of IGN312; (3) the possibility that BioWa's POTELLIGENT(TM) technology may not have the desired effect on antibodies; (4) the timing or results of ongoing and future clinical trials for IGN312; (5) the ability of Aphton to obtain regulatory approval for IGN312, fund the development, manufacture and commercialization of IGN312, and gain commercial acceptance of IGN312; (6) the ability of any approved third parties to manufacture and supply IGN312 in commercial quantities; (7) the ability of Aphton to fund the development, manufacturing and commercialization of IGN312; (8) Aphton's ability to find a partner who will support the further development of Insegia; (9) intellectual property risks; (10) the impact of competitive products and pricing; and (10) changing economic conditions. |
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