VALENCIA, Calif., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MannKind Corporation today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has awarded the company two key patents relating to a method for inducing a cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response that will be utilized with the company’s cancer immunotherapy products. MannKind is in late stage preclinical testing of therapeutic vaccines for treatment of colorectal, renal, ovarian, pancreatic and breast cancers. The company believes these vaccines will likely improve outcomes for a substantial portion of patients suffering from these cancers.
U.S. Patent 6,994,851, issued yesterday, claims methods of obtaining a sustained CTL response by delivery of antigen to the lymphatic system, particularly intranodally, and maintaining the antigen in the lymphatic system over time. The method allows for the prolongation of the effector phase of the CTL response and can be applied to the treatment of cancer and chronic infections.
U.S. Patent 6,977,074, issued December 20, 2005, claims methods of inducing a CTL response by delivering antigen directly to a lymph node or lymph vessel. Direct intralymphatic administration enables more efficient induction of CTL responses than can generally be obtained using more conventional routes of administration with any amount of antigen. This can be particularly advantageous when using DNA vaccines or small peptides to provide antigen.
David Diamond, Director of Intellectual Property for MannKind Corporation, commented, “The issuance of these patents provides a strong proprietary foundation for our cancer immunotherapy program. Intralymphatic delivery greatly increases the number of CTL’s against the cancer cells, wherever they may be in the body. In this way the body’s natural immune system destroys the cancer without harm to normal cells and should improve efficacy and safety without the serious side effects of other current therapies.”
About MannKind Corporation
MannKind Corporation focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic products for diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Its lead investigational product candidate, the Technosphere(R) Insulin System, is currently in phase 3 clinical trials in the U.S. and Europe to study its safety and efficacy in the treatment of diabetes. MannKind Corporation expects to initiate a phase 1 clinical trial of an immunotherapy for carcinoma later this year. For more information on MannKind Corporation and its technology, visit www.mannkindcorp.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements related to MannKind’s clinical trials and product candidates that involve risks and uncertainties. Words such as “believes”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “expects”, “intend”, “will”, “goal”, “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company’s current expectations. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to the progress, timing and results of clinical trials, the risk that future safety and efficacy studies may not confirm our past clinical results, risks related to intellectual property matters, difficulties or delays in seeking or obtaining regulatory approval, risks related to manufacturing the Company’s lead product candidate, risks related to competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies, risks related to the Company’s ability to enter into any collaborations or strategic partnerships or obtain additional financing to support the Company’s operations, risks related to the Company’s ability to meet milestones and other risks detailed in MannKind’s filings with the SEC, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and MannKind undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release.
MannKind Corporation
CONTACT: David Thomson, General Counsel of MannKind Corporation,+1-661-775-5350, dthomson@mannkindcorp.com; or Investors, Julie Huang, orMedia, Robert Stanislaro, both of Financial Dynamics, +1-212-850-5600,mnkd@fd-us.com, for MannKind Corporation
Web site: http://www.mannkindcorp.com/
