BioSpace - Print News Article

Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MAXM) Issued Patent For Method Of Identifying Therapeutically Effective Immunosupressive Agents 10/19/2005 5:13:13 PM SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2005--Maxim Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:MAXM) (SSE:MAXM) announced today the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued U.S. patent number 6,828,091 B2, entitled "Method of Identifying Immunosuppressive Agents." The patent covers a method for identifying therapeutically active immunosuppressive agents by screening for compounds that induce apoptosis in activated T or B cells. Apoptosis is detected by measuring the activity of caspase-3, an enzyme essential in programmed cell death. "Overly aggressive immune responses have become associated with many serious diseases such as arthritis, graft versus host disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and other conditions. As our understanding of these diseases has progressed, the need for targeted immunosuppressive therapeutics has become more apparent. Our proprietary screening technology allows Maxim to find compounds that selectively suppress activated T or B cells and identify those holding promise as potential immunosuppressive drugs," commented Ben Tseng, Ph.D., Vice President of Research for Maxim Pharmaceuticals. "While our primary focus will remain on the research and development of compounds that induce apoptosis in cancer cells, we will also work to exploit the broader applications of our technology platform."

Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MAXM) Issued Patent For Method Of Identifying Therapeutically Effective Immunosupressive Agents
10/19/2005 5:13:13 PM

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2005--Maxim Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:MAXM) (SSE:MAXM) announced today the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued U.S. patent number 6,828,091 B2, entitled "Method of Identifying Immunosuppressive Agents." The patent covers a method for identifying therapeutically active immunosuppressive agents by screening for compounds that induce apoptosis in activated T or B cells. Apoptosis is detected by measuring the activity of caspase-3, an enzyme essential in programmed cell death. "Overly aggressive immune responses have become associated with many serious diseases such as arthritis, graft versus host disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and other conditions. As our understanding of these diseases has progressed, the need for targeted immunosuppressive therapeutics has become more apparent. Our proprietary screening technology allows Maxim to find compounds that selectively suppress activated T or B cells and identify those holding promise as potential immunosuppressive drugs," commented Ben Tseng, Ph.D., Vice President of Research for Maxim Pharmaceuticals. "While our primary focus will remain on the research and development of compounds that induce apoptosis in cancer cells, we will also work to exploit the broader applications of our technology platform."