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Positive preclinical results reported by Peregrine Pharmaceuticals represent an important accomplishment for Affitech and validate its antibody discovery technologies
OSLO, NORWAY - November 19, 2007
Affitech AS, the human antibody therapeutics company announced today that its partner, Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, has reported that its anti-VEGF antibody R84, an antibody identified by Affitech, selectively blocks the interaction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2); and is as effective as AvastinŽ (bevacizumab) in inhibiting growth of established tumors in a preclinical breast cancer model. Results were presented at IBC's 5th Annual International Anti-Angiogenesis Conference in Boston on November 12, 2007.
R84 selectively blocks VEGF binding only to VEGFR2, the receptor primarily responsible for tumor angiogenesis, unlike AvastinŽ and other drugs in development that block VEGF binding to both VEGFR2 and VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1). Selective blocking of VEGF binding to VEGFR2 may ultimately offer safety or efficacy benefits over non-selective approaches. Additional preclinical studies are planned to evaluate R84 as a potential clinical candidate based on its anti-tumor activity. This marks an important accomplishment by Affitech in its collaboration with Peregrine and a major validation of the company's antibody discovery and development technologies.
"We are delighted with the in vivo results and Peregrine's decision to evaluate R84 as a candidate for further preclinical studies and potential clinical development", commented Martin Welschof, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Affitech. "The studies demonstrated that the selective blocking of VEGF binding to VEGFR2 is as effective as AvastinŽ in preclinical models. R84 is one of several fully human antibodies we have been able to successfully discover for Peregrine and other collaborators using our proprietary antibody library and screening technologies, such as AffiscreeN™ and CBAS™ (Cell Based Antibody Screening). We are also at the preclinical stage of development of our own pipeline candidates, which were generated by the CBAS™ system, and we anticipate similar success."
Peregrine, in association with Affitech, has now filed a patent application for R84 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to preserve the right to obtain patent protection in the United States, all member countries of the European Union, and the rest of the world.
Note to editors:
Affitech AS is a privately held human therapeutic antibody discovery and development company with headquarters and R&D facilities in Oslo, Norway and its US subsidiary in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Company's current disease focus is oncology and it utilizes two discrete but unique approaches for the discovery of fully human antibodies - (i) Molecule Based Antibody Discovery, and (ii) Cell Based Antibody Discovery. Molecule Based Antibody Discovery involves proprietary PhagemidScreeN and AffiScreeN. technologies and uses validated targets for discovery purpose. Cell Based Antibody Discovery is based on CBAS™ technology, which is a "reverse-screening" approach for discovering antibodies and their cognate targets utilizing disease-specific cells. Several of the Company's proprietary product candidates currently in development were generated by CBAS™. Affitech also sells its proprietary Protein L product line for the purification of antibody and antibody fragments. Affitech offers collaborators a flexible business model and very competitive price structure with low royalty stacking. The Company has concluded deals with commercial organizations such as Roche, Peregrine, XOMA, NatImmune, Viventia, Dyax, Micromet, Pharmexa and others. Further information at www.affitech.com
For further information please contact Affitech AS
Martin Welschof, CEO
Tel: +47 22 95 88 77
Email:
Web page: http://www.affitech.com
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