ST. LOUIS, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SAFC, a member of the Sigma- Aldrich Group , announced today that its SAFC Pharma business segment has been appointed by Affichem, a French biotechnology company, to provide chemical development services relating to Dendrogenine A, a potential cancer treatment.
Dendrogenine A, currently in pre-clinical development, is a new “first in class” molecule dedicated to the treatment of aggressive cancers. This compound contains an original mechanism of action, which makes tumor- producing, tumor-specific antigens and activates the cytotoxic T response against the tumor through the stimulation of the monocyte differentiation into “dendritic like” cells.
Chemists at the SAFC Manchester facility plan to conduct process research and development on the synthesis of the material to determine a suitable process for producing sufficient quantities of Dendrogenine A for future clinical trials and cGMP commercial production.
Stephane Silvente, Affichem CEO, said, “We are very pleased to be able to draw upon SAFC’s chemical development expertise to assist us with this part of the Dendrogenine A development program.”
SAFC President Frank Wicks adds, “Our chemical development partnership with Affichem to work on the Dendrogenine A program is one example of how SAFC’s capabilities support the chemistry requirements of emerging and established pharmaceutical companies. SAFC’s strategy combines experienced scientific talent with state-of-the-art technologies and facilities to offer customers a faster and more efficient method to obtain the high quality drug candidates they seek.”
SAFC Pharma is focused on cGMP manufacturing, process development and contract services for small organic APIs and advanced intermediates, and the development of large molecule biopharmaceuticals.
About SAFC: SAFC is the custom manufacturing group within the Sigma- Aldrich group that focuses on both biochemical production and the manufacturing of complex, multi-step organic synthesis of APIs and key intermediates. SAFC has manufacturing facilities around the world dedicated to providing manufacturing services for companies requiring a reliable partner to produce their custom manufactured materials. SAFC has four operating segments -- SAFC Pharma, SAFC Supply Solutions, SAFC Biosciences, and SAFC Hitech -- and had annual sales of nearly $437 million in 2005. SAFC is one of the world’s 10 largest fine chemical businesses.
About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 35 countries and has 7,300 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award- winning Web site at http://sigma-aldrich.com .
About Affichem: Affichem is a biotechnology company developing products in cancer and degenerative illnesses. Affichem drug candidates are based on a proprietary new family of compounds derived from sterols. The Dendrogenines A and B have demonstrated capabilities at the preclinical stage in cancer and deafness due to their properties in activating cell differentiation in neuronal and immuno-competent cells. The company expects to bring Dendrogenine A to clinical trial (phase I/II) in oncology as soon as possible.
Cautionary Statement: This release contains forward-looking statements relating to future performance, goals, strategic actions and initiatives and similar intentions and beliefs and other statements regarding the Companies’ expectations, goals, beliefs, intentions and the like, which involve assumptions regarding the Companies’ operations and conditions in the markets the Companies serve. The Companies do not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
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CONTACT: Dr. Frank Wicks, President of SAFC, +1-314-286-8008, or Mr.Richard Kerns of Northern Exposure, +44-161-728-5880
Web site: http://www.sigma-aldrich.com/
