-data presented at the International Congress on Animal Reproduction in
Vancouver, B.C.-
BELLEVILLE, ON, July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (TSX:
BNC) (ASX: BNC), a research-based, technology-driven Canadian
biopharmaceutical company, today shared preliminary data on an
in-licensed superagonist hormone technology in bovine proof of concept
studies. This technology was developed by Trophogen Inc., a U.S.-based
biotechnology company. Bioniche signed an exclusive global veterinary
license agreement with Trophogen in June, 2010.
Several analogs produced with this recombinant follicle stimulating
hormone (rFSH) technology have been tested over the past two years, and
one has proven to be highly efficacious in the induction of multiple
ovulations. A superovulatory response was induced with a single dose in
beef cows treated three times consecutively.
More studies are required to determine the optimal dosage of the
technology both in beef and dairy cattle, and to determine the
long-term effects of treating consecutively with rFSH more than three
times.
"These data are very encouraging," said Mr. Graeme McRae, President &
CEO of Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., "Trophogen has developed a clearly
superior recombinant FSH technology which will, over the coming years,
be developed into a synthetic product containing no material of animal
origin. No other animal health company has been able to successfully
develop such a product."
The Company's current FSH product, Folltropin®-V, is a global market leader. Folltropin®-V is used to superovulate reproductively mature cattle. However, this
product is derived from animal origin materials, and the recombinant
FSH technology represents the next generation of this important
intervention.
"Recombinant technologyis the important next step in the production of protein hormones for use
in cattle," said Dr. Reuben Mapletoft, Distinguished Professor,
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. "This process
completely eliminates the potential for contamination with infectious
agents and provides for a safe and highly consistent product. The
efficacy of the Trophogen technology is very gratifying for those of us
who have worked with it and provides for exciting possibilities for the
future application of assisted reproductive technologies in cattle."
About Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.
Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. is a research-based, technology-driven
Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery,
development, manufacturing, and marketing of proprietary and innovative
products for human and animal health markets worldwide. The
fully-integrated company employs more than 200 skilled personnel and
has three operating divisions: Human Health, Animal Health, and Food
Safety. The Company's primary goal is to develop and commercialize
products that advance human or animal health and increase shareholder
value.
Bioniche Animal Health develops, manufactures and markets veterinary
biopharmaceutical products worldwide. In North America, it has
development, manufacturing and marketing facilities in Belleville,
Ontario, Canada, Athens, Georgia, U.S.A. and Pullman, Washington,
U.S.A. In Australia, business is conducted from two sites: Sydney, New
South Wales, where sales and marketing, customer support and technical
service are located; and Armidale, New South Wales, where research,
development and manufacturing facilities are located.
Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. has been named one of the Top 50 Best Small
and Medium-Sized Employers in Canada for 2011. For more information, please visit www.Bioniche.com
About Trophogen Inc.
Trophogen, Inc. is a U.S.-based biotechnology company founded in 2001
with Series A funding from Toucan Capital, focusing on the development
of human and bovine high affinity glycoprotein hormone and related
growth factor superagonist analogs for human infertility and animal
superovulation as well as targeted therapy and imaging of thyroid,
ovarian, breast, prostate and testicular cancers. Trophogen's lead
product is a long-acting human FSH superagonist for a multibillion
dollar human infertility market, and the above-described bovine FSH
analog was engineered to mimic the proven increased efficacy of the
human FSH analog. In addition to its venture capital support, Trophogen
has received a $3 million NICHD Phase 2 SBIR grant to take its human
FSH analog to Phase I-II clinical trials in 2014. Trophogen has also
received over $5 million from other NIH SBIR grants to take other
advanced pre-clinical human products to Phase I-II clinical trials by
2016 for additional multibillion dollar markets. It has also received
over $3 million from various human and veterinary pharmaceutical
co-development and licensing agreements. For more information about
Trophogen, please visit www.trophogen.com.
Except for historical information, this news release may contain
forward-looking statements that reflect the two companies' current
expectations regarding future events. These forward-looking statements
involve risk and uncertainties, which may cause, but are not limited
to, changing market conditions, the successful and timely completion of
clinical studies, the establishment of corporate alliances, the impact
of competitive products and pricing, new product development,
uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process, and other
risks detailed from time to time in Bioniche's ongoing quarterly and
annual reporting.
SOURCE Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.