DGAP-News: Press Release: 4SC Discovery and Panoptes Pharma sign patent transfer agreement for novel compound to treat severe eye diseases
(firmenpresse) - DGAP-News: 4SC AG / Key word(s): Investment/Alliance
Press Release: 4SC Discovery and Panoptes Pharma sign patent transfer
agreement for novel compound to treat severe eye diseases
26.09.2013 / 07:30
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Press Release
4SC Discovery and Panoptes Pharma sign patent transfer agreement for novel
compound to treat severe eye diseases
Planegg-Martinsried/Germany and Vienna/Austria, 26 September 2013 - 4SC AG
(Frankfurt, Prime Standard: VSC), a discovery and development company of
targeted small molecule drugs for autoimmune diseases and cancer, today
announced that its wholly-owned research subsidiary 4SC Discovery GmbH has
entered into a patent transfer agreement with Austrian biotechnology
company Panoptes Pharma Ges.m.b.H, Vienna.
The agreement gives Panoptes Pharma full patent rights to an
anti-inflammatory, small molecule substance that was discovered by 4SC
Discovery and is currently in preclinical development stage. Panoptes will
continue developing this substance - the immune modulator PP-001 - for
therapeutic application in the field of inflammatory eye diseases with high
medical need and will market the compound if development is successful.
Target indications of Panoptes for the substance are uveitis and viral
conjunctivitis (commonly known as 'pink eye').
In return, 4SC Discovery receives a share of 24.9% in Panoptes Pharma and
is entitled to subsequent, performance-based milestone payments and
royalties based on the sales revenue generated with the compound.
Furthermore, 4SC Discovery has the right to use the compound in the
therapeutic fields of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel
disease (IBD). In the event of the further development and/or
commercialisation of the compound in RA and/or IBD by 4SC Discovery,
Panoptes would be entitled to milestone payments and royalties.
Dr. Daniel Vitt, Managing Director of 4SC Discovery GmbH and Chief
Scientific Officer at 4SC AG, comments: 'This partnership again
demonstrates the great expertise and scientific potential of 4SC in the
fields of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In Panoptes Pharma, we
found an aspiring, young biotech company which will advance the preclinical
and clinical development of our innovative compound with great dedication.
We wish the highly motivated and experienced team at Panoptes great
success. The equity stake in Panoptes and the agreed potential milestone
payments and royalties represent an attractive opportunity for us to
participate in the successful future development of our substance in the
field of severe eye diseases.'
'Despite the fact that millions of patients suffer from chronic uveitis and
adenoviral conjunctivitis there is no safe and well tolerable medication
available to treat these eye diseases. PP-001 showed excellent efficacy and
good tolerability in animal models. We are fortunate to have with 4SC
Discovery a renowned and reliable partner on board and Panoptes is now in
the position to furtherdevelop this promising drug candidate', explains Dr.
Franz Obermayr, CEO of Panoptes Pharma.
Ends
About PP-001
PP-001 is a highly specific immunomodulating small molecule targeting the
molecular causes of uveitis and adenoviral conjunctivitis. Efficacy of
PP-001 has been established in animal models for uveitis and viral
indications.
About inflammatory eye diseases
Uveitis
Uveitis is an inflammatory and chronic disease of the eye affecting the
uvea, the middle, pigmented layer of the eye. The uvea comprises of three
parts: the iris (responsible for color), the ciliary body (positioned
behind the iris and responsible for lubrication of the eye) and the choroid
(vascular lining tissue below the retina). Apart from corticosteroids and
immunosuppressives no treatment is currently available. Both classes of
drugs are known to cause serious side effects when used for a prolonged
time period, needed to treat chronic uveitis. Uveitis is one of the leading
causes of blindness in the world and the fourth leading cause in the
western world. Several million patients worldwide suffer from any form of
uveitis.
Viral Conjunctivitis ('pink eye', EKC)
Viral conjunctivitis (often called 'pink eye' or EKC - epidemic
keratoconjunctivitis) is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the
mucous membrane covering the white part of the eyes and the inner side of
the eyelids. This notifiable disease, which is caused by adenoviral
infection, is a serious and highly contagious form of conjunctivitis.
Millions of patients suffer from viral conjunctivits each year. In contrast
to bacterial conjunctivitis, there is no causal treatment available.
About 4SC Discovery GmbH and 4SC Group
4SC Discovery GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of 4SC AG, specialises in the
early-stage research and discovery of novel therapeutic compounds against
cancer and autoimmune diseases. 4SC Discovery engages in partnerships with
pharmaceutical and biotech companies in order to advance the development
and commercialisation of its own therapeutic programmes. In adition, as a
drug discovery service provider 4SC Discovery offers its expertise via
research collaborations to companies from the pharmaceutical and biotech
industry.
4SC Group focuses on the discovery and clinical development of targeted
small-molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases in
order to enhance patients' quality of life. At the end of June 2013, 4SC
Group had 83 employees. The company was founded in 1997 and has been listed
on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since December 2005.
About Panoptes Pharma Ges.m.b.H.
Panoptes is a privately held biotech company focused on developing small
molecule based therapies for the treatment of severe eye diseases with high
unmet medical need. The development of Panoptes' clinical candidate PP-001
focuses on a new treatment for orphan autoimmune uveitis, a disease which
is one of the major causes of blindness. As a second indication, adenoviral
conjunctivitis will be pursued, a disease for which to date, no treatment
is available. Due to its unique mode of action, PP-001 has therapeutic
potential for additional inflammatory and viral indications.
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Any
forward-looking statement applies only on the date of this press release.
By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of
known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may or may not occur in the
future and as a result of which the actual results and performance may
differ substantially from the expected future results or performance
expressed or implied in the forward looking statements. No warranties or
representations are made as to the accuracy, achievement or reasonableness
of such statements, estimates or projections, and 4SC AG has no obligation
to update any such information or to correct any inaccuracies herein or
omission herefrom which may become apparent.
For more information about 4SC please visit www.4sc.com and
www.4sc-discovery.de or contact:
4SC AG
Jochen Orlowski, Corporate Communications&Investor Relations
jochen.orlowski(at)4sc.com, Tel.: +49-89-7007-6366
MC Services
Raimund Gabriel
raimund.gabriel(at)mc-services.eu, Tel.: +49-89-2102-2830
The Trout Group
Chad Rubin
Crubin(at)troutgroup.com, Tel.: +1-646-378-2947
For more information about Panoptes please vitsit www.panoptes-pharma.com
or contact:
Panoptes Pharma
Franz Obermayr
info(at)panoptes-pharma.com ; Tel.: +43 676 6647510
End of Corporate News
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Language: English
Company: 4SC AG
Am Klopferspitz 19a
82152 Martinsried
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)89 7007 63-0
Fax: +49 (0)89 7007 63-29
E-mail: public(at)4sc.com
Internet: www.4sc.de
ISIN: DE0005753818
WKN: 575381
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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