The article, co-authored by Bernard Lauwerys MD-PHD of the Catholic University of Louvain / University Clinics of Saint-Luc in Belgium, and the NEOVACS' scientific team, concludes that active immunization with the Kinoid is a novel and potentially effective approach in the treatment of lupus. The article is based on the results of Phase I/II study IFN?-Kinoid in lupus published for the first time in November 2011 during the annual meeting of the American College for Rheumatology (ACR).
These results confirm that the Kinoids developed by NEOVACS' outstanding scientific team and partners have the potential to become the breakthrough treatment for auto-immune diseases. Roche /Genentech's decision last October to initiate a phase III of its monoclonal antibody targeting interferon alpha also lends validation to our approach with the IFN?-Kinoid. The pharmaceutical industry's renewed interest in lupus is clear and it is growing" concluded Guy-Charles Fanneau de la Horie, CEO of NEOVACS.
About lupus
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, life-threatening autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces antibodies to cells within the body leading to widespread inflammation and tissue damage. Prevalence estimates vary widely, and range as high as 1.5 million in North America (the Lupus Foundation of America) and 5 million worldwide. The Center for Disease Control estimates a prevalence between 322,000 and one million with definite or probable SLE in the US. Lupus disease may first occur at any age, though peak diagnosis is between the ages of 15 and 40. It is far more common in women than men. People with SLE may experience fatigue, pain or swelling in joints, skin rashes, and fevers. It can also affect the lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels. It remains an area of significant unmet medical need. Scientists have highlighted the overproduction of the interferon alpha cytokine as a key factor in the causation and development of the disease. The market for lupus treatments is estimated by analysts to be potentially worth several billion US$.
About Neovacs
Neovacs is a biotechnology company focused on an active immunotherapy technology platform (Kinoids) with applications in autoimmune and/or inflammatory diseases. On the basis of the company's proprietary technology for inducing a polyclonal immune response (covered by five patent families that run until at least 2026) Neovacs is focusing its development efforts on two active immunotherapies: TNF-Kinoid is being developed for the treatment of TNF-mediated autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, whereas IFN?-Kinoid is being developed for the indication of lupus. The goal of the Kinoid approach is to enable patients to have access to safe treatments with efficacy that is sustained in these life-long diseases.
For more information on Neovacs, visit www.neovacs.fr
Contacts
Caroline Carmagnol, +33 (0)1 42 68 86 43
caroline@alizerp.com
or
NEOVACS
Nathalie Trépo, +33 (0)1 53 10 93 00
ntrepo@neovacs.com
or
Investors - NewCap
Axelle Vuillermet, +33 (0) 1 44 71 94 93
avuillermet@newcap.fr
