EDMONTON, Oct. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Isotechnika Inc. announced today that the Company has been issued European Patent # EP0991660 for its lead immunosuppressive drug, ISA247. The patent entitled “DEUTERATED AND UNDEUTERATED CYCLOSPORINE ANALOGS AND THEIR USE AS IMMUNOMODULATING AGENTS” is the ninth patent to be issued internationally in this patent family. Patents relating to these claims have issued in the following countries; Australia (# 750245, issued July 11, 2002 and # 774744 issued October 21, 2004), Canada (# 2,298,572 issued April 9, 2002 and # 2,372,639 issued November 1, 2005); New Zealand (# 502362 issued September 6, 2001), South Korea (# 585348, issued June 1, 2006) and the United States (# 6,605,593 issued August 12, 2003 and # 6,613,739 issued September 2, 2003).
“We are pleased to add another international patent in a major market to our portfolio,” stated Dr. Randall Yatscoff, Isotechnika’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Several additional patentable claims for ISA247 continue to be investigated and pursued where appropriate.”
About Isotechnika
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Isotechnika Inc. is an international biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Drawing upon its expertise in medicinal chemistry and immunology, the Company is focused on the discovery and development of novel immunosuppressive therapeutics that are safer than currently available treatments. Its entrepreneurial management and world-class team of scientists are building a pipeline of immunosuppressive drug candidates for treatment of autoimmune diseases and for use in the prevention of organ rejection in transplantation. Isotechnika looks to become the leader in development of immunosuppressant therapies.
Isotechnika’s lead compound, ISA247 has completed an extension protocol of a Canadian Phase III human clinical trial for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis and is currently involved in a North American Phase IIb human clinical trial for the prevention of kidney graft rejection. The Company also has an additional immunosuppressive compound in its drug pipeline, TAFA93 which successfully completed Phase I clinical trials.
Isotechnika Inc. is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ISA. More information on Isotechnika can be found at www.isotechnika.com.
Partnerships with Isotechnika Inc.
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Isotechnika Inc. signed a collaboration agreement with Hoffman La Roche on April 9, 2002, which licensed the worldwide rights to develop and commercialize ISA247 for all transplant indications.
On September 30, 2005, Isotechnika Inc. entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Atrium Medical Corporation for the use of ISA247 and TAFA93 specifically with drug eluting devices for the non-systemic treatment of vascular, cardiovascular, target vessel and tissue disorders.
Isotechnika Inc. and Cellgate Inc. signed an option agreement on April 25, 2006, granting Isotechnika the option to obtain an exclusive license to develop and commercialize conjugates consisting of Cellgate’s patented transporter technology for the topical delivery of ISA247 in patients suffering from mild to moderate psoriasis.
On May 25, 2006, Isotechnika Inc. signed an agreement with Lux Biosciences, Inc. of Jersey City, New Jersey granting Lux Biosciences worldwide rights to develop and commercialize Isotechnika’s lead drug, ISA247 for the treatment and prophylaxis of all ophthalmic diseases.
Forward-Looking Statements
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This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements, including the Company’s belief as to the potential of its products, the Company’s expectations regarding the issuance of additional patents and the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the ability to economically manufacture its products, the potential of its products, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company’s ability to successfully commercialize its products, the ability of the Company to defend its patents from infringement by third parties, and the risk that the Company’s patents may be subsequently shown to be invalid or infringe the patents of others. Investors should consult the Company’s quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward- looking statements. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Isotechnika Inc.
CONTACT: Dr. Randall Yatscoff, President & CEO, Isotechnika Inc., (780)487-1600 (246), (780) 484-4105 (fax), ryatscoff@isotechnika.com; StephanieGillis-Paulgaard, Director, Corporate Communications, Isotechnika Inc.,(780) 487-1600 (243), (780) 487-1500 (fax),sgillis-paulgaard@isotechnika.com
