Trinam® is a gene-based medicine to prevent blood vessels from blocking in kidney dialysis patients who have undergone vascular access graft surgery. The product is an adenovirus-mediated VEGF-D gene delivered with a novel biodegradable local delivery device.
In March 2007, Ark reported that in a Phase 2 clinical trial the access grafts of patients given Trinam® remained functional for dialysis, on average, up to three times longer than in untreated controls.
Rights to employ the VEGF-D gene in Trinam®, are licensed from Vegenics to Ark. Under the terms of the Vegenics/Ark license agreement, Vegenics is entitled to receive milestone payments on clinical development achievements and royalties on product sales.
Circadian, through Vegenics, owns extensive intellectual property rights for the use of VEGF-D and other VEGF family members for diverse therapeutic applications. Circadian’s internal product programs are focused on the development of novel therapeutics for cancer.
Robert Klupacs, CEO of Circadian commented, “This is a significant milestone for Trinam® in the path towards commercialization, and we congratulate Ark on their pioneering role in advancing this important and novel technology. We are hopeful that Trinam® will, in the future, bring considerable benefit to patients undergoing kidney dialysis. We believe that progression of this application is a reflection of the significant commercial value of our VEGF intellectual property.”
Additional information is provided in the announcement below submitted by Ark Therapeutics Limited to the London Stock Exchange. Additional information on Ark Therapeutics may be found on its web-site www.arktherapeutics.com
For more information
Company enquiries Robert Klupacs Managing Director - Circadian Tel: +61 (0) 3 9826 0399 or robert.klupacs@circadian.com.au
Media enquiries Rebecca Wilson Principal - Buchan Tel: +61 (0) 417 382 391
About Circadian Technologies Limited
Circadian (ASX: CIR) is a drug developer focused on its extensive intellectual property portfolio around Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) C and D owned by its unlisted subsidiary Vegenics. The applications for the VEGF technology, which functions in regulating blood supply, are substantial and broad. Circadian’s internal product development programs are focused on novel anti-cancer therapeutics for large unmet needs. Circadian, has also licensed rights to some parts of its intellectual property portfolio for the development of other products. UK company Ark Therapeutics Group plc (LSE: AKT) is developing Trinam®, a treatment for vascular grafts associated with renal dialysis based upon Circadian intellectual property which has commenced Phase 3 trials. Another Circadian licensee, ImClone Systems Inc (NASDAQ:IMCL), is developing an antibody-based drug to VEGFR-3 for the treatment of solid tumours.
The VEGF patent portfolio developed by LICR and Licentia has been assigned to Circadian’s subsidiary Vegenics. Vegenics also has rights to CoGenesys Inc/Human Genome Sciences Inc’s VEGF-C intellectual property.
