Strengthens Intellectual Property Portfolio on Lead Programs and Antibody
Assets
TORONTO, Nov. 28 /CNW/ - ARIUS Research Inc. ("ARIUS" or the "Company")
(TSX: ARI) announced today that it has received Notices of Allowance from the
United States Patent and Trademark Office for patents on their lead antibody,
ARH460-16-2, targeting the CD44 antigen implicated as markers of cancer stem
cells in breast and prostate cancer plus separate patents covering antibodies
to the CD63, CD59 and MCSP antigens.
These patents are important additions to the ARIUS Intellectual Property
portfolio that underlie the value of existing partnerships and ongoing
business development and licensing activities. ARIUS has licensing and
collaboration agreements with leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical
companies such as Genentech, Takeda and PDL Biopharma with a global potential
value to ARIUS of approximately $400 million plus royalties on sales. ARIUS
will be eligible for these milestone fees based on research activities,
clinical milestones, regulatory approvals and 1st commercial sales. The terms
include $10.7 million in upfront payments, equity investment and research
support funding.
These new patents cover the antibody molecules and various uses of each
antibody and other similar antibodies to treat cancers such as ovarian,
prostate and breast cancer. In addition, ARIUS has patent claims covering
epitopes or specific parts of a cancer antigen target. This patent approach
represents a large step up in value over more general target coverage because
it is the epitope that determines what a cell will do when an antibody binds
to it. In ARIUS' case, functional antibodies bind to epitopes that signal a
cancer cell to die.
ARIUS has over 80 additional patents pending that will continue to
enhance the value of the Company and the strength of upcoming deals. The
Company actively applies for patents on additional technology, products, and
uses of products on an ongoing basis.
"Patents are crucial to being able to extract the value from the work
that we do and are one of the main reasons we are an attractive partner for
both large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies," said Dr. David S.
Young, President and Chief Executive Officer of ARIUS. "Some of these current
patents represent a novel approach to cancer targets that is derived directly
from our FunctionFIRST(TM) Platform."
ARIUS has undergone a transformative year in 2006 with $28.5 million in
financing from leading life sciences investors such as Orbimed Advisors, Xmark
Opportunity Funds, and Efficacy Capital and graduated its listing to the
Toronto Stock Exchange. ARIUS is growing substantially and has augmented its
management and scientific team with leaders and experts in their fields.
ARIUS' proprietary FunctionFIRST(TM) technology platform uniquely creates
functional anti-cancer monoclonal antibodies that belong to a class of
revolutionary cancer drugs. ARIUS' functional antibodies are cytotoxic to
cancer cells but are non-toxic to their normal cell counterparts and are
validated through a number of commercial partnerships.
About ARIUS
ARIUS Research Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to personalizing
cancer therapy through the discovery and development of novel anticancer
monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Established in 1999, ARIUS has built a
proprietary technology platform, FunctionFIRST(TM), that rapidly identifies
powerful MAbs targeting a variety of cancer indications. This antibody
generation engine has enabled ARIUS to assemble a growing pipeline, which is
used for commercial collaborations and in-house development. ARIUS has ongoing
partnerships with key biotechnology and drug development companies. The
Company is listed on the TSX under the symbol "ARI".
Forward-Looking Statement
Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause our actual results to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not
limited to, ARIUS successfully advancing its new product programs as well as
licensing opportunities. These statements are only predictions and actual
events or results may differ materially. Factors that could cause such actual
events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements to
differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by such
statements include, but are not limited to: early stage of development;
technology and product development; dependence on and management of current
and future corporate collaborations; future capital needs; uncertainty of
additional funding; no assurance of market acceptance; dependence on
proprietary technology and uncertainty of patent protection; intense
competition; manufacturing and market uncertainties; and government
regulation. These and other factors are described in detail in ARIUS' Annual
Report, forthcoming news releases and other filings with Canadian securities
regulatory authorities available at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements
are based on our current expectations and ARIUS is not obligated to update
such information to reflect later events or developments.
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