PROLOR Biotech Reports Positive Results From Comparative Study of Its Longer-Acting Version of Multiple Sclerosis Drug Interferon Beta in Primates

NES-ZIONA, Israel, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PROLOR Biotech, Inc., today reported positive results from a comparative study in primates of its longer-acting version of the multiple sclerosis drug interferon beta (IFN-beta-1a-CTP, referred to as IFN-beta-CTP). The study was designed to measure the potential increase in durability (half-life), overall drug exposure (AUC) and biological potency of PROLOR's long-acting CTP-modified human interferon beta when compared with commercially available interferon beta. Interferon-beta-1a (referred to as IFN-beta), which is indicated for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), is currently marketed by Merck Serono as Rebif(R) and by Biogen Idec as Avonex(R), with combined annual sales estimated at more than $3 billion worldwide.

The expanded biological potency seen in this new study is consistent with the results of a previous study in mice conducted by PROLOR, which compared the anti-tumor activity of IFN-beta-CTP to commercially available IFN-beta in a model of human cancer. In that study, IFN-beta-CTP showed 100% inhibition of human melanoma tumors implanted in nude mice after eight days and 87.5% inhibition after 10 days, versus 50% inhibition with commercially available IFN-beta after eight days and just 12.5% inhibition after 10 days.

ABOUT PROLOR BIOTECH

PROLOR Biotech, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company applying unique technologies, including its patented CTP technology, primarily to develop longer-acting, proprietary versions of already approved therapeutic proteins that currently generate billions of dollars in annual global sales. The CTP technology is applicable to virtually all proteins and PROLOR is currently developing long-acting versions of human growth hormone, which is in clinical development, and interferon beta, factor VII, factor IX and erythropoietin, which are in preclinical development, as well as GLP-1 and other therapeutic peptides. For more information on PROLOR, visit http://www.prolor-biotech.com.

PROLOR Biotech, Inc.