COLLEGEVILLE, Pa., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE - News), announced today the signing of a definitive agreement under which it has acquired Haptogen Ltd., a Scottish company based in Aberdeen that is focused on the discovery of biopharmaceutical therapies. This acquisition significantly increases Wyeth’s already robust biotechnology drug discovery capabilities.
“Haptogen brings to Wyeth a suite of next-generation biotechnology discovery technologies that complement Wyeth’s ongoing biotherapeutic discovery efforts,” says Frank Walsh, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Discovery, Wyeth Research. “In addition to the exciting technology and first- rate research team that we are bringing into our organization, we consider the opportunity to conduct biopharmaceutical drug discovery in Scotland particularly important because of the rich pool of scientific and technological talent.”
Haptogen has developed a number of technologies that allow for the discovery and optimization of protein therapeutics with significantly improved profiles over the current generation of protein therapies. Such benefits include the potential for more convenient routes of administration as well as cell and organ penetration, opening the opportunity to address diseases that are not treatable with the first generation of protein therapeutics. Haptogen was founded in 2002 as a spin-out of the University of Aberdeen, and its facilities are located on the University of Aberdeen campus.
Through the acquisition, Haptogen becomes part of Wyeth Discovery Research. In addition to Haptogen, Wyeth has a significant ongoing research relationship in the field of translational medicine through the Translational Medicine Research Collaboration. This partnership, which was launched in 2006, includes Wyeth as well as the Universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow, regional National Health Service boards and Scottish Enterprise.
“Since Haptogen started its discussions with Wyeth, we have been impressed by the quality and commitment of the people we have met,” says Jim Reid, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Haptogen Ltd. “We believe that combining Haptogen’s technology platforms with Wyeth’s existing discovery and development capabilities creates the greatest opportunity for realizing the potential to bring new treatments to patients.”
About Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth, has leading products in the areas of women’s health care, infectious disease, gastrointestinal health, central nervous system, inflammation, transplantation, hemophilia, oncology, vaccines and nutritional products. Wyeth is the fourth largest biotechnology company in the world in terms of marketed biotechnology products.
Wyeth is one of the world’s largest research-driven pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology products and non-prescription medicines that improve the quality of life for people worldwide. The Company’s major divisions include Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal Health.
WYETH DISCLOSURE NOTICE: The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements based on current expectations of future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include the inherent uncertainty of the timing and success of, and expense associated with, research, development, regulatory approval and commercialization of our products, including with respect to our pipeline products; government cost-containment initiatives; restrictions on third-party payments for our products; substantial competition in our industry, including from branded and generic products; data generated on our products; the importance of strong performance from our principal products and our anticipated new product introductions; the highly regulated nature of our business; product liability, intellectual property and other litigation risks and environmental liabilities; uncertainty regarding our intellectual property rights and those of others; difficulties associated with, and regulatory compliance with respect to, manufacturing of our products; risks associated with our strategic relationships; economic conditions including interest and currency exchange rate fluctuations; changes in generally accepted accounting principles; trade buying patterns; the impact of legislation and regulatory compliance; risks and uncertainties associated with global operations and sales; and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our current reports on Form 8-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K, particularly the discussion under the caption “Item 1A, RISK FACTORS.” The forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these risk factors. We assume no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Source: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
