DURHAM, N.C., Nov. 2, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Argos Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of fully personalized immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases using its Arcelis™ technology platform, was presented with the "2012 SEBIO Deal of the Year: Venture Capital Transaction" award during a ceremony held at the conclusion of Southeast BIO's (SEBIO) 14th Annual Investor Forum on November 1, 2012 in Palm Beach, FL. B. Jefferson (Jeff) Clark, a member of Argos Therapeutics' Board of Directors, accepted the award on the behalf of company.
Argos was recognized for raising a $25 million Series D financing in April to support the commencement of its Phase 3 ADAPT study in patients with newly diagnosed, metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) by the end of 2012. The financing was led by Forbion Capital and included other existing investors, including TVM Capital, Lumira Capital, Intersouth Partners, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, Morningside Group, and Aurora Funds. The international Phase 3 ADAPT study is expected to commence at the end of 2012 under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement with the FDA. This pivotal study will evaluate the addition of AGS-003 to standard therapy versus standard therapy alone.
"The Southeast BIO Deal of the Year award is another indication of the hard work the employees of Argos Therapeutics have done to advance our fully personalized immunotherapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma," said Jeff Abbey, Chief Executive Officer of Argos Therapeutics. "The capital we raised in April together with this recognition will help bring AGS-003 to market for the thousands of advanced kidney cancer patients in the US each year."
About the Arcelis™ Technology
Arcelis is a fully personalized, active immunotherapy technology that captures all antigens, including mutated and variant antigens that are specific to each patient´s disease. It has been shown to overcome immunosuppression by producing a durable memory T-cell response without adjuvants that are associated with toxicity. The technology can be leveraged to manufacture personalized therapies for any cancer or infectious disease.
The Arcelis process integrates readily into many current treatment paradigms, using only a small tumor or blood sample and the patient´s own dendritic cells, which are derived and optimized following a single leukapheresis procedure. The proprietary process uses RNA isolated from the patient sample to program the dendritic cells to target the entire disease-antigen repertoire. The activated, antigen-loaded dendritic cells are then formulated into the patient´s plasma and administered as an injection into the skin to produce the desired patient-specific immune response.
Arcelis technology also overcomes many of the manufacturing and commercialization challenges that have impeded other cancer immunotherapies. Automated processes allow a single facility to serve all of North America and can be used to treat any cancer or infectious disease with the same manufacturing process and equipment.
About Argos Therapeutics
Argos Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of fully personalized immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases using its Arcelis™ technology platform. Argos´ most advanced product candidate AGS-003 has initiated a Phase 3 study for the treatment of mRCC, and the Company plans to have data from its Phase 2b study of AGS-004 for the treatment of HIV in the second half of 2013. Argos also recently completed a successful Phase 1a study of AGS-009 in patients with lupus.