LEXINGTON, Mass., Sept. 28, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Agenus Inc. (Nasdaq:AGEN), a developer of vaccines for cancer and infectious diseases, today announced that the company will be presenting at the 3rd Annual "Cancer Immunotherapy: A Long-Awaited Reality" conference taking place from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. EDT on October 4, 2012, at the New York Academy of Medicine in New York. Dr. Garo Armen, chairman and CEO of Agenus, will present a corporate overview at 10:00 a.m.
A live and archived webcast of the company's presentation at the conference hosted by MD Becker Partners LLC will be available at www.regonline.com/mdb2012.
About the 3rd Annual Cancer Immunotherapy: A Long-Awaited Reality Conference
"Cancer Immunotherapy: A Long Awaited Reality" is a unique, single-day conference event that unites founding visionary researchers, clinicians, business leaders, key investors, and other stakeholders to engage in discussions, exchange information, highlight opportunities, and showcase leading companies in the field of cancer immunotherapy.
About Agenus
Agenus Inc. is a biotechnology company working to develop treatments for cancers and infectious diseases. The company is focused on immunotherapeutic products based on strong platform technologies with multiple product candidates advancing through the clinic, including several product candidates that have advanced into late-stage clinical trials through corporate partners. For more information, please visit www.agenusbio.com.
The Agenus logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=8187
There are 16 QS-21 Stimulon®1 adjuvant containing vaccine programs in clinical development. Between Agenus and its partners, there are a total of 18 programs in clinical development. They include:
- Phase 3: GSK's RTS,S for malaria2
- Phase 3: GSK's MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapy for selected patients with resected melanoma2
- Phase 3: GSK's MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapy for selected patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer2
- Phase 3: GSK's HZ/su for shingles2
Agenus' pipeline programs include:
- Phase 2: Prophage Series G-100 for newly diagnosed glioma
- Phase 2: Prophage Series G-200 for recurrent glioma
- Phase 2-Ready: HerpV (contains QS-21) for genital herpes
Saponin Platform: QS-21 Stimulon®Adjuvant
QS-21 licensees include GlaxoSmithKline and Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy. Agenus is generally entitled to receive milestone payments as QS-21-containing programs advance, as well as royalties for 10 years after commercial launch, with some exceptions.
Heat Shock Protein Platform: Prophage Series G
The Prophage Series G vaccines (HSPPC-96; vitespen) are being studied in two different settings of glioma: newly diagnosed and recurrent disease. Glioma is the deadliest form of brain cancer with an average survival of six to 14 months.
Heat Shock Protein Platform: Recombinant Series HerpV
HerpV is the most advanced HSV-2 vaccine currently in clinical development for the treatment of genital herpes. Agenus plans to advance HerpV into a Phase 2 study in 2012 that will measure the effect of vaccination on viral shedding in individuals infected with HSV-2. Experts in HSV-2 clinical research believe that a reduction in viral shedding could translate into the clinical benefit of a reduction in recurrent outbreaks.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding up-coming presentations and technologies, programs, and activities of the company and its licensees. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the factors described under the Risk Factors section of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the period ended June 30, 2012. Agenus cautions investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. These statements speak only as of the date of this document, and Agenus undertakes no obligation to update or revise the statements. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Agenus' business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those identified above. When evaluating Agenus' business and securities, investors should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties.
1. The QS-21 Stimulon® adjuvant and related agreements, and HerpV are assets of Antigenics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Agenus Inc.
2. QS-21 is a component of GSK adjuvant systems.
Stimulon is a registered trademark of Agenus Inc. and its subsidiaries.