Plans Expanded Cancer Development and UniBody for HIV
Summary: Genmab has regained rights to HuMax-CD4 from Merck Serono and plans to
expand development in cancer and create a UniBody for HIV.
Copenhagen, Denmark; June 29, 2007 - Genmab A/S (CSE: GEN) announced today it
has regained all rights to the HuMax-CD4(R) (zanolimumab) antibody from Merck
Serono S.A. Genmab plans to continue moving development of HuMax-CD4 forward in
the existing non-cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
clinical programs and expand development into earlier stage patients in
combination with PUVA as well as other combinations with approved therapies for
CTCL.
In addition, Genmab is making plans to develop a UniBody(TM) targeting the CD4
receptor. HuMax-CD4 binds the CD4 molecule with very high affinity and
effectively blocked and neutralized infection of a broad panel of HIV-1 viruses
isolated from infected individuals. Laboratory studies in an immunodeficient
(SCID) mouse model, where animals were reconstituted with human blood cells,
showed HuMax-CD4 to effectively block HIV-1 replication and reduce depletion of
CD4+ T-cells by the virus. A UniBody targeting CD4 represents a promising drug
candidate that may prevent or slow HIV-1 infection and AIDS and spare T-cells.
Worldwide rights to HuMax-CD4 were previously licensed to Merck Serono S.A. in
August 2005. Regaining rights to HuMax-CD4 will not influence Genmab's
financial guidance for 2007.
“We are very enthusiastic about having HuMax-CD4 back in the hands of Genmab's
experienced clinical development team who will work diligently to move the
program forward. HuMax-CD4 is a nice fit with the rest of Genmab's pipeline and
may provide us with an additional commercial opportunity to move the company
forward into the sales and marketing arena,” said Lisa N. Drakeman, Ph.D., Chief
Executive Officer of Genmab. “If we ultimately build a sales force for
HuMax-CD20, we would be in a position for this same sales force to market
HuMax-CD4.”
Conference Call
Genmab will hold a conference call about the news today, Friday, June 29, 2007
at:
3:30 PM CEST
2:30 PM BST
9:30 AM EDT
The dial in numbers are as follows:
+1 800 479 9001 (in the US)
+1 719 457 2618 (outside the US)
The conference call will be held in English.
To listen to a live webcast of the call please visit:
https://cis.premconf.com/sc/scw.dll/usr?cid=vlllrznlmslvsmwmm
About Genmab A/S
Genmab A/S is a biotechnology company that creates and develops human antibodies
for the treatment of life-threatening and debilitating diseases. Genmab has
numerous products in development to treat cancer, infectious disease, rheumatoid
arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, and intends to continue assembling
a broad portfolio of new therapeutic products. In addition, Genmab has developed
UniBody(TM), a new proprietary technology that creates a stable, smaller
antibody format. Genmab has operations in Europe and the US. For more
information about Genmab, visit www.genmab.com.
This press release contains forward looking statements. The words “believe”,
“expect”, “anticipate”, “intend” and “plan” and similar expressions identify
forward looking statements. Actual results or performance may differ materially
from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such statements.
The important factors that could cause our actual results or performance to
differ materially include, among others, risks associated with product discovery
and development, uncertainties related to the outcome and conduct of clinical
trials including unforeseen safety issues, uncertainties related to product
manufacturing, the lack of market acceptance of our products, our inability to
manage growth, the competitive environment in relation to our business area and
markets, our inability to attract and retain suitably qualified personnel, the
unenforceability or lack of protection of our patents and proprietary rights,
our relationships with affiliated entities, changes and developments in
technology which may render our products obsolete, and other factors. Genmab is
not under an obligation to up-date statements regarding the future following the
publication of this release; nor to confirm such statements in relation to
actual results, unless this is required by law.
Genmab(R); the Y-shaped Genmab logo(R); HuMax(R); HuMax-CD4(R); HuMax-CD20(R);
HuMax-EGFr(TM); HuMax-Inflam(TM); HuMax-TAC(TM); HuMax-HepC(TM); HuMax-CD38(TM);
HuMax-ZP3(TM); and UniBody(TM) are all trademarks of Genmab A/S.
Contact: Helle Husted, Sr. Director, Investor Relations, T: +45 33 44 77 30, M:
+45 25 27 47 13, E: hth@genmab.com
Stock Exchange Release no. 32/2007
