ARIUS' "target on the target" protected
TSX: ARI
TORONTO, March 8 /CNW/ - ARIUS Research Inc. (TSX: ARI) announced today that it has been granted two new United States patents for antibodies within their CD63 program. Patent 7,175,846. covers anti-cancer antibodies in ARIUS' partnered program for melanoma, breast and prostate cancers and protects the valuable site on the disease target that the drug candidate binds to. The Company's FunctionFIRST(TM) platform uses a unique process to discover antibody drugs by identifying those that destroy cancer cells while leaving normal cells alone. In the process the antibodies can attach themselves to the cancer cell but they must hit the appropriate spot on the cell i.e. the "target on the target", in order to destroy it. ARIUS' patent strategy has successfully captured the discovery process, the antibody drug molecules and now the spot on the target that is key to causing the cancer cell's destruction.
Patent 7,186,808 covers a second antibody within this program that kills breast and prostate cancer cells. The patent also covers the use of the antibody as a treatment for breast cancer.
ARIUS has over 120 patents pending that will continue to enhance the value of the company.
"This patent provides additional commercial and scientific validation to our drug discovery platform," said Dr. David Young, President and CEO of ARIUS. "Our unique approach allows us to extract new value from a wide range of cancer targets while identifying drug candidates that can be developed to help patients."
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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