TSX: ARI
TORONTO, Jan. 17 /CNW/ - ARIUS Research Inc. (TSX: ARI) announced today that it has received notice from the European Patent Office that Patent EP1613656B1 has been granted under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). This patent addresses one of the anti-cancer antibodies in ARIUS's lead program for breast and prostate cancers targeting the CD59 antigen. CD59 is important because it can be used by cancer cells to evade the body's immune system and is associated with worse patient outcomes.
Previously, ARIUS had received a Notice of Allowance for the corresponding patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. PCT patents are important additions to the ARIUS Intellectual Property portfolio that expand protection outside the United States and are essential to determining worldwide value for business development and licensing activities. This patent protects the antibody molecule and ways of identifying patients who carry the antibody target and could potentially benefit from therapy involving such a molecule.
ARIUS has over 80 patents pending that will continue to enhance the value of the company.
"This is the first European patent for our CD59 program" said Dr. David Young, President and CEO of ARIUS. "Our worldwide Intellectual property strategy has been very successful and we are pleased to announce such an important patent for one of our novel lead programs."
ARIUS Research Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel anticancer monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) focused on destroying cancer cells. 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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