Oslo, Norway, 18 September 2012 - Algeta ASA (OSE: ALGETA), a company
focused on the development of novel targeted cancer therapeutics, today
celebrates the official opening of the offices and facilities of Algeta US in
Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Jeff Albers, President Algeta US, and senior management colleagues will be joined by
local leaders including, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, Timothy Murray,
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center President and CEO, Susan Windham-Bannister,
Ph.D., and MassBio Director of Economic Development & Global Affairs, Peter Abair, for
an official ribbon cutting ceremony this afternoon.
In September 2009, Algeta signed an agreement with Bayer for the development and
commercialization of radium-223 dichloride. Under the terms of the agreement, Bayer
will develop, apply for global health authority approvals and commercialize radium-223
dichloride globally, and Algeta will co-promote it with Bayer in the US.
“We are very pleased to mark the occasion of the official opening of our operational
center in Cambridge in the presence of such distinguished guests,” said Jeff Albers,
President Algeta US. “Algeta Group’s expansion to the US is an important step toward
realizing our vision for building a global oncology company commercializing innovation.
We have brought on experienced sales, marketing and medical affairs executives to build
our US commercial operation and plan to deliver a phased build-up of resources in
anticipation of a US commercial launch, with Bayer, of radium-223 dichloride if approved
by FDA. We look forward to contributing to the commercial success of the Massachusetts
biotech economy and joining the region’s growing group of commercial-stage
companies.”
“Algeta is an example of the type of fast-growing company that makes Massachusetts a
global leader in the life sciences,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “As Governor Patrick
and I focus on creating jobs in every region of the Commonwealth, I am encouraged by
Algeta Group’s decision to establish its commercial operations in Cambridge and join
other life sciences companies that are bringing the economic benefits of this industry to
communities across Massachusetts.”
“We are excited to welcome Algeta US to the Massachusetts life sciences community,”
said Dr. Windham-Bannister, who heads the agency charged with implementing Gov.
Patrick’s 10-year, $1 billion Life Sciences Initiative. The Massachusetts Life Sciences
Center worked with Algeta Group to encourage their decision to locate in Massachusetts.
“Algeta is focused on bringing novel targeted therapies to patients with cancer, and
Massachusetts has an especially robust oncology community. The company’s presence
will further strengthen that community and I am confident that the team at Algeta US
will find the full array of resources and partners in Massachusetts that they need to
thrive.”
“Algeta Group’s decision to expand in Massachusetts highlights the strength of the
growing cluster of commercial-stage life sciences companies here in the Commonwealth,” said Robert Coughlin, President & CEO of MassBio. “We’re thrilled to have such an innovative, growing, global company join the Massachusetts supercluster.”
For further information, please contact
Mike Booth +47 2202 4510
Communications & Corporate Affairs ir@algeta.com
International media enquiries:
Mark Swallow +44 207 638 9571
Citigate Dewe Rogerson mark.swallow@citigatedr.co.uk
US media enquiries:
Kari Watson +1 781 235 3060
MacDougall Biomedical Communications kwatson@macbiocom.com
US investor enquiries:
Tricia Swanson +1 646 378-2953
The Trout Group tswanson@troutgroup.com
About Algeta
Algeta is a company focused on developing novel targeted therapies for patients with
cancer based on its alpha-pharmaceutical platform.
Algeta's lead product radium-223 dichloride is being evaluated as a potential new
treatment for cancer patients with bone metastases. Submissions seeking marketing
approval for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients with
bone metastases are expected to be made, by Bayer, in the second half of 2012 to
regulatory authorities in both the US and Europe. Radium-223 dichloride is being
evaluated and will be commercialized, if approved, under a global agreement with Bayer
Pharma AG. If approved, Bayer will lead the commercialization of radium-223 dichloride
worldwide, and Algeta will co-promote it with Bayer in the US. Radium-223 dichloride is
not currently approved by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the European
Medicines Agency (EMA) or any other health authority.
The Company is also developing Thorium-Targeted Conjugates (TTCs), which are based
on conjugating the alpha-emitter thorium-227 to tumor-targeting molecules, and has
four preclinical programs underway, including a collaboration with Sanofi.
Algeta is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and has a US subsidiary, Algeta US, LLC, based
in Cambridge, MA, performing commercial marketing operations in the US. Algeta is
listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (Ticker: ALGETA). For more information please visit
www.algeta.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based on
uncertainty, as they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the
future and which, by their nature, may have an impact on results of operations and the
financial condition of Algeta. Such forward-looking statements reflect our current views
and are based on the information currently available to Algeta. Algeta cannot give any
assurance as to whether such forward looking statements will prove to be correct. These
forward looking statements include statements regarding expected timing of regulatory
filings and the expected commercial launch of radium-223 dichloride. There are a
number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors
include, among other things, unforeseen delays in the timing of expected regulatory
filings, the ability to identify and hire a sufficient number of qualified employees for the
US field force, growth management, general economic and business conditions and the
pricing environment.