Targepeutics, Inc. Actively Developing Targeted Molecular Therapies For Cancer

HERSHEY, Pa., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Targepeutics is a biopharmaceutical company that is actively developing numerous targeted molecular therapies for a variety of diseases. Our lead platform targets the cancer specific biomarker IL13Ra2, which is abundantly expressed in a number of malignancies, including but not limited to high-grade astrocytoma, prostate cancer and ovarian cancer. GB13 is our lead compound of this platform and is composed of an IL13Ra2-targeted genetically engineered mutant of IL-13 and PE4E, a derivative of Pseudomonas exotoxin A.

In contrast with the wild type IL-13-based cytotoxin (Cintredekin Besudotox), GB13 predominately targets the cancer-restricted IL13Ra2 and not the physiologically abundant, IL13Ra1-involving IL-13 binding site. GB13 has shown a superior specificity and efficacy in pre-clinical studies when compared side-by-side with the wild type IL-13-based cytotoxin, hIL13-PE38QQR (Cintredekin Besudotox). GB13 is currently scheduled to enter clinical trials in 2007 in collaboration with NABTT.

Targepeutics was co-founded by Dr. Waldemar Debinski, who first conceptualized and developed many of the IL-13-based anti-cancer therapies. Targepeutics is developing increasingly specific and potent IL-13 mutants for targeting cancer. Our optimism regarding GB13 was recently reinforced by the release of the top line data from the PRECISE Phase III clinical trial, which demonstrates that Neopharm's IL-13 cytotoxin (Cintredekin Besudotox) was at least as potent as MGI Pharma's Gliadel Wafer in patients with treatment- resistant recurrent high-grade astrocytoma.

Targepeutics continues to closely monitor data and gather information from these trials as these data only strengthen our belief that a markedly more specific and potent compound from this technology platform will meet with success in patients and successfully advance to the market.

Targepeutics is based in Hershey, Pennsylvania and is privately held. For more information, please contact: Sil Lutkewitte, President, at slutkewitte@targepeutics.com.

Targepeutics, Inc.

CONTACT: Sil Lutkewitte, President of Targepeutics, +1-717-533-7772, orslutkewitte@targepeutics.com

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