Oeiras, Portugal and Madrid, Spain – 10 September 2009.
Biotecnol and Digna Biotech announced today that they have entered into an Exclusive License and Option Agreement with Genentech, Inc. a wholly-owned member of the Roche Group, for developing and commercialising Cardiotrophin-1 for potential use in certain liver indications.
Under the terms of the agreement, Genentech grants to Biotecnol and Digna (the Consortium) exclusive rights, under Cardiotrophin-1 patents Genentech owns and controls, to develop and commercialize Cardiotrophin-1 Proteins for potential use in certain liver indications.
In exchange, the Consortium grants to Genentech an exclusive option to obtain exclusive rights under the Consortium’s patents and know-how, to develop and commercialize Cardiotrophin-1 Proteins for potential use in certain liver indications. Genentech will receive an undisclosed upfront payment from the Consortium. If Genentech exercises its option, the Consortium will receive from Genentech reimbursement of development costs, agreed milestone payments and royalties on sales.
“The joint efforts of many players, starting from the discovery for a new use of CT-1 in liver diseases at CIMA (University of Navarra Research Centre), followed by a strong commitment of public (CDTI-Navarra Government) and private investors (Suanfarma Biotech y Clave Mayor), but above all, the synergies of two highly committed companies such as Digna and Biotecnol, has allowed us to generated a unique opportunity to develop CT-1 for treating patients with life threatening liver diseases. The data we have demonstrated so far may be a very good indicator for this statement,” said Pablo Ortiz, general manager of Digna Biotech.
“Biotecnol and Digna Biotech, have successfully managed to set-up a first class example of cutting edge translational research, with a clear aim of taking valuable products to the clinic in the area of liver diseases. CT-1 is just the first product we are developing together, said Pedro de Noronha Pissarra, Chief Executive Officer of Biotecnol. “We are pleased to have entered into such a deal with Genentech, a pioneer in the Biotech industry. We believe to have the opportunity to make a significant contribution towards the generation of first-in-class products for treatment of serious hepatic conditions” he added.
About Cardiotrophin-1 and the Consortium
Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) is a member of the interleukin (IL-6) family of cytokines, which includes other cytokines such as IL-6, leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), oncostatin M, IL-11, IL-27, cardiotrophin-like-cytokine (CLC) and neuropoietin. All cytokines in this family signal through receptor complexes that includes the receptor subunit glycoprotein-130 (gp-130). Previous studies have indicated that this protein is able to stimulate hepatic regeneration and to protect liver parenchyma in diverse animal models of hepatic damage including ConA hepatitis and ischemia/reperfusion liver injury during transplants. Biotecnol and Digna Biotech (Spain) have established a co-development agreement for developing recombinant human CT-1 as a first in class drug to treat liver diseases including the reduction of ischemic and/or reperfusion injury in the liver or kidney transplantations, and liver regeneration following hepatectomy/resection. CT-1 has already been granted Orphan Drug Status by the FDA (June 2008), and by the EMEA (Orphan Designation Number EU/3/06/396) for prevention of ischemia/reperfusion injury associated with solid organ transplantation. The consortium is aiming at expanding the development of CT1 for other indications such as Acute Liver Failure, Morbid Obesity, Chronic Hepatitis, where the same has valuable intellectual property.
About Biotecnol
Biotecnol is a biotechnology company developing biopharmaceutical products, and has a special focus on the development of novel antibody-based therapeutics to treat life-threatening diseases such as cancer. Biotecnol has a proprietary antibody format, which allows to develop multi-specific antibodies against various cancer targets. These formats are called Tribodies™. Biotecnol is committed in building value by developing a diverse pipeline of antibody products to address unmet healthcare needs. Biotecnol has a presence in the USA and carries its product development activities via its fully owned subsidiary Biotecnol Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Through its facilities in Portugal, Biotecnol leverages its business income by establishing in-house partner-led or collaborative programmes, which provide Biotecnol a strong client-based activity and an established track record. Biotecnol uses its proprietary expression technology, cell line development capabilities, upstream and downstream processing, analytics and QC experience for delivering therapeutic recombinant protein product and processes to support all stages of product development through early research and preclinical activities to GMP/GLP compliant processes for biomanufacturing of clinical and ultimately commercial products.
About Digna Biotech
Digna Biotech is a biotechnology company located in Navarra, Spain, emerging from a collaboration agreement between the University of Navarra and a group of investors representing some of the most important companies in Spain. Digna Biotech’s mission is the development of the intellectual property generated by CIMA at the preclinical, clinical and commercial level. CIMA, with more than 370 investigators and technicians, performs research in gene therapy and hepatology, oncology, neurology and cardiovascular areas, taking advantage of the collaborations with the University Clinic of Navarra and the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biological Sciences from the University of Navarra. The goal of CIMA is to obtain results that can be applied to patients.
|
Biotecnol Contact
|
Digna Biotech Contact
|
|
|
Beatriz Gil-Alberdi
HealthCo, SL
C/ Núñez Morgado, 5
28036- Madrid
Spain
www.healthco.es
healthco@healthco.es
|