DGAP-News: Biotest AG: Biotest-EpiVax Collaborative Research Targets New, Non-Immunogenic Treatment for Hemophilia A
(firmenpresse) - DGAP-News: Biotest AG / Key word(s): Alliance
Biotest AG: Biotest-EpiVax Collaborative Research Targets New,
Non-Immunogenic Treatment for Hemophilia A
03.12.2013 / 12:00
---------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESS RELEASE
Biotest-EpiVax Collaborative Research Targets New, Non-Immunogenic
Treatment for Hemophilia A
Dreieich/ Germany, Rhode Island/ USA, 3 December 2013. Biotest AG,
Dreieich, Germany and EpiVax, Inc., Providence, Rhode Island, USA are
pleased to announce a new Collaborative Research Agreement. With this
collaboration a novel, non-immunogenic Factor VIII (FVIII) should be
developed. The coagulation factor VIII used for Hemophilia therapy will be
altered in such a way that the immune system of the patients may not
respond by developing inhibitory antibodies. The formation of inhibitory
antibodies against the Coagulation factor VIII reduces its efficacy and may
lead to severe bleeding disorders. Immunogenicity suppression will be also
achieved through integration of EpiVax' proprietary Tregitope, an
immune-modulating technology, with the FVIII treatment.
A tolerized and de-immunized version of factor VIII would allow patients
and their families to experience the benefits of FVIII treatment, which
does not induce a reaction of the immune system (no immunogenicity) without
the fear of developing inhibitory antibodies ('inhibitors') against the
therapeutic factor VIII. Studies carried out by EpiVax and collaborators
indicate that Tregitope may be useful for reducing the antibody formation
(inducing tolerance) to transplants, protein drugs, and allergens by
'Tregitopes' (http://bit.ly/Tregi-Pubs). This announcement marks the
initiation of the joint program, which is in the pre-clinical phase of
development.
'This is an entirely novel approach to improving factor VIII therapy. In
addition, a whole range of other biologics such as toxins and monoclonal
antibodies might also benefit from the same approach.' said Anne De Groot,
M.D., President and CEO of EpiVax. 'The development of 'inhibitors' is a
life-threatening complication with a profound impact on patients' lives. We
want to make it possible to avoid the most serious side effect of today's
hemophilia treatment.-' added Jörg Schüttrumpf, M.D., Senior Vice President
of Global Research at Biotest.
About Biotest
Biotest is a provider of plasma proteins and biotherapeutic drugs. With a
value added chain that extends from pre-clinical and clinical development
to worldwide sales, Biotest has specialized primarily in the areas of
clinical immunology, hematology and intensive medicine. Biotest develops
and markets immunoglobulins, coagulation factors and albumins based on
human blood plasma. These are used for diseases of the immune and
hematopoietic systems. In addition Biotest develops monoclonal antibodies
in the indications of rheumatoid arthritis and cancer of plasma cells,
which are produced by recombinant technologies. Biotest has about 1.900
employees worldwide. The preference shares of Biotest AG are listed in the
SDAX on the Frankfurt stock exchange.
About EpiVax
EpiVax, Inc., located in Providence, Rhode Island, USA, is a biotechnology
company focused on the development of vaccines and biologic therapies.
EpiVax is one of the world's leading innovators in the field of
'Immunogenicity Screening'. The company uses proprietary immunoinformatics
tools to screen protein therapeutics and to de-immunize these drugs so as
to reduce adverse effects in the clinic. The Tregitope technology is an
additional immune-modulating tool that is expected to improve tolerance of
protein drugs such as replacement enzymes, blood factors, and monoclonal
antibodies.
About Tregitopes
Tregitopes are linear sequences of amino acids contained within the
framework of a very common serum protein known as immunoglobulin G.
Tregitopes act as a natural immune system 'off switch' and have been shown
in standard preclinical models, to 'reset' the immune response away from
immunogenicity and towards tolerance. In the current collaboration, EpiVax
and Biotest scientists will use Tregitopes to selectively dampening
unwanted immune responses to factor VIII, the primary therapeutic used to
control bleeding for individuals who have hemophilia A. For more
information about Tregitopes visit
http://www.epivax.com/pipeline/immune-modulation/.
About Hemophilia
As a lifelong inherited bleeding disorder, hemophilia affects about 1 in
10,000 people worldwide. Hemophilia is one of a number of such disorders
that prevent blood from clotting properly. People with hemophilia
experience prolonged internal bleeding that can result from a seemingly
minor injury. Bleeding into joints and muscles causes severe pain and
disability while bleeding into major organs, such as the brain, can cause
death. Treating the bleeding episodes involves the prompt and proper use of
clotting factor concentrates. Hemophilia A is caused by a deficiency of
clotting factor VIII. Therefore, intravenously administered therapeutic
factor VIII is often recognized as a foreign protein (antigen) by the
patient's immune system. As a consequence up to 30% of patients with severe
hemophilia develop antibodies against the therapeutic factor VIII. These
antibodies are called inhibitors because they reduce or eliminate the
therapeutic effect of factor VIII. Most inhibitors develop during early
childhood and compromise the ability to effectively prevent or manage
hemorrhages, resulting in a greater rate of disability, morbidity,
complications and costs of therapy. The formation of inhibitors is the
most serious complication of today's hemophilia treatment. Avoiding the
risk of inhibitor development would be the most effective prerequisite for
a continuous therapy enabling hemophilia patients to live an almost normal
life without irreversible joint damage.
For more information on hemophilia and FVIII, please visit the World
Federation of Hemophilia website at http://www.wfh.org/en/page.aspx?pid=646
Acknowledgement
This project builds on research that is currently initially funded by a
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Heart
Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), a component of the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) (Award Number R43HL114308). These and additional funds from
the NIH and private foundations such as JDRF have supported the
pre-clinical development of Tregitope applications in hemophilia, diabetes,
and biologics. More information about Tregitope applications can be found
at this link:
http://www.epivax.com/pipeline/immune-modulation/tregitope-applications/
Disclaimer
This document contains forward-looking statements on overall economic
development as well as on the business, earnings, financial and assets
position of Biotest AG and its subsidiaries. These statements are based on
current plans, estimates, forecasts and expectations of the company and are
thus subject to risks and elements of uncertainty that could result in
significant deviation of actual developments from expected developments.
The forward-looking statements are only valid at the time of publication.
Biotest does not intend to update the forward-looking statements and
assumes no obligation to do so.
Biotest AG, Landsteinerstr. 5, 63303 Dreieich, www.biotest.de
Dr. Monika Buttkereit
tel.: +49 (0) 6103 801-4406,
e-mail: investor_relations(at)biotest.de
fax: +49 (0) 6103 801-347
Securities' ID No., ISIN ordinary shares: 522720, DE0005227201
Securities' ID No., ISIN preference shares: 522723, DE0005227235
Listing: Prime Standard
Open Market: Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover,
München, Stuttgart
EpiVax, Inc.146 Clifford Street, Providence RI 02903, www.epivax.com
Dr. Annie De Groot MD
e-mail: annied(at)epivax.com
tel: +1 401-272-2123
mobile: +1 401-952-4227
fax: +1 401-272-7562
End of Corporate News
---------------------------------------------------------------------
03.12.2013 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
company of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Language: English
Company: Biotest AG
Landsteinerstraße 5
63303 Dreieich
Germany
Phone: 0 61 03 - 8 01-0
Fax: 0 61 03 - 8 01-150
E-mail: investor_relations(at)biotest.de
Internet: http://www.biotest.de
ISIN: DE0005227235, DE0005227201
WKN: 522723, 522720
Indices: SDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
---------------------------------------------------------------------
242753 03.12.2013
Themen in dieser Pressemitteilung:
biotest-ag-biotest
epivax-collaborative-research-targets-new
non
immunogenic-treatment-for-hemophilia-a
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 03.12.2013 - 12:00 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 322024
Anzahl Zeichen: 2648
contact information:
Kategorie:
Business News
Diese Pressemitteilung wurde bisher 314 mal aufgerufen.
Die Pressemitteilung mit dem Titel:
"DGAP-News: Biotest AG: Biotest-EpiVax Collaborative Research Targets New, Non-Immunogenic Treatment for Hemophilia A"
steht unter der journalistisch-redaktionellen Verantwortung von
Biotest AG (Nachricht senden)
Beachten Sie bitte die weiteren Informationen zum Haftungsauschluß (gemäß TMG - TeleMedianGesetz) und dem Datenschutz (gemäß der DSGVO).
