AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 1, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XBiotech (NASDAQ:XBIT), the world’s leading developer of next-generation True Human™ therapeutic antibodies, announced today the completion of the first cohort in its Phase 1/2 clinical study of a novel True Human monoclonal antibody therapy intended to treat all forms of Staphylococcus aureus infections, including Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Having met this milestone, XBiotech will advance to the next dose level in the Phase 1 portion of the study. The dose will be increased by a factor of 5, and represents the second of three planned dosing cohorts.
XBiotech’s antibody therapy, known as 514G3, was developed from a human donor with natural antibodies effective at neutralizing MRSA and non-MRSA forms of S. aureus. 514G3 knocks out the principle immune evasion mechanism of the bacteria, allowing white blood cells to detect and destroy the bacteria. 514G3 is expected to treat all strains of MRSA and can be used without consideration for strain-specific resistance to various antibiotics. As a True Human monoclonal antibody, 514G3 is expected to be well tolerated without the side effects or risks of antibiotics.
Michael Stecher, M.D., XBiotech’s Medical Director, said, “Review of the safety data from this dose cohort revealed no adverse safety signals, and we are pleased to continue enrolling and dosing patients with 514G3 in accordance with our clinical plan. Based on patient responses to date, we are eager to advance to our next dose cohort.”
The randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase 1/2 study is designed to evaluate dosing, safety and efficacy of 514G3 and will enroll 52 patients at approximately 16 clinical sites in the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia. Hospitalized patients with S. aureus bacteremia will be randomized to receive 514G3 plus standard of care antibiotics or placebo plus antibiotics. The study will be unblinded during the Phase 1 dose escalation stage, where the maximum tolerated dose will be determined, followed by a Phase 2 study designed to assess efficacy against S. aureus infection. Efficacy measures include time to clearance of bacteremia, as measured by blood culture, duration of fever and length of hospitalization. For more information about the study, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About XBiotech
XBiotech is pioneering the discovery and development of targeted antibodies based on its True HumanTM technology. The company’s mission is to rethink the way antibody medicines are discovered and commercialized by advancing its robust pipeline of human antibodies for treating serious diseases such as cancer, inflammatory conditions and infectious diseases. XBiotech’s lead product, Xilonix™, is a potential breakthrough antibody therapy that is currently the subject of two pivotal clinical studies for treating patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Xilonix specifically targets and neutralizes interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1a), a molecule known to promote angiogenesis, growth and spread of tumors, as well as mediate symptoms such as metabolic dysregulation, fatigue and anxiety associated with advanced cancer. XBiotech’s True Human antibodies are cloned directly from individual donors who possess natural immunity against certain diseases. For more information, visit www.xbiotech.com.
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This press release contains forward-looking statements, including declarations regarding management’s beliefs and expectations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “expects,” “plans,” “contemplate,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “intend” or “continue” or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are subject to the disclosures set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of certain of our SEC filings. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.
CONTACT: Ashley Otero XBiotech aotero@xbiotech.com 512.386.2930 Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.: Joshua Drumm, Ph.D. (investors) jdrumm@tiberend.com 212.375.2664 Janine McCargo (media) jmccargo@tiberend.com 646.604.5150
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