Vienna (Austria)/Cleveland (USA), 15 March 2011 - APEIRON Biologics AG
announced that it has entered into an exclusive option to license from the
Cleveland Clinic a number of novel compounds. These compounds are currently
in development at Cleveland Clinic as drug candidates for treatment of
various cancers, designed to fight cancer based on stimulation of the immune
system. In preclinical models, they have shown anti-cancer activity and a
favourable toxicity profile as orally available agents. This transaction
follows in the wake of successful in-licensing deals that Apeiron completed
in the last six months.
Apeiron Biologics AG, Vienna (Austria) and Cleveland Clinic Foundation,
Cleveland (USA), have entered into a set of agreements setting the framework
for a collaboration on novel anti-cancer compounds currently in development
at Cleveland Clinic. The collaboration includes an option to Apeiron to
enter into a worldwide, exclusive license agreement with the Clinic relating
to the compounds, and an Apeiron sponsored research agreement with the
Clinic relating to these compounds and approach.
The compounds, tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors (TPI), have been designed to
inhibit SHP-1, a protein tyrosine phosphatase, which is a key negative
regulator of immune cell activation. Inhibition of SHP-1 leads to activation
of the immune system to combat cancer.
Commenting on the agreements, Hans Loibner, CEO of Apeiron, said: "This is a
great collaboration for Apeiron. We regard the compounds developed at
Cleveland Clinic as an attractive opportunity since they are designed to
activate the patient's own immune system." He added: "Cleveland Clinic is a
leading R&D institution and one of the top hospitals in the US."
"We have been encouraged by the developments we have seen in regards to
these novel compounds, and we hope these therapeutics will one day benefit
patients," said Chris Coburn, Executive Director of Cleveland Clinic
Innovations.
No financial details are disclosed.
About Apeiron (March 2011):
Apeiron Biologics AG is a privately financed Biotech company based in
Vienna. Following a licensing deal with GSK in 2010 relating to project
APN01 (recombinant human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2, rhACE2), Apeiron
expanded its project portfolio with a focus on biologic / immunologic
therapy of cancer and related conditions. Building on an existing range of
innovative in-house projects, Apeiron acquired exclusive rights to
hu14.18-IL2 (APN301), a Phase II antibody-based biologic for treatment of
neuroblastoma, melanoma and other cancers, and recombinant human Superoxide
Dismutase (APN201), a naturally occurring enzyme for treatment of cancer
treatment-related side-effects, also in Phase II.
Contact Apeiron:
Dr. Hans Loibner, CEO
Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 5
1030 Vienna, Austria
T +43 / 1 / 865 6577
E apeiron@apeiron-biologics.com
W www.apeiron-biologics.com
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Dechert LLP acted as legal advisor to Apeiron.
Mag. Maria Fraczek
PR-Assistentin & Office Managerin
PR&D - Public Relations for Research & Education
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