Protherics PLC
Protherics licenses its Covaccine HT adjuvant to
Nobilon for influenza vaccine indications
London, UK and Boxmeer, The Netherlands; 26 September 2007 - Protherics PLC
("Protherics" or the "Company"), the international biopharmaceutical company
focused on critical care and cancer, and Nobilon International B.V. ("Nobilon"),
part of Organon, the human health care business unit of Akzo Nobel, today
announced that Nobilon has licensed Protherics' CoVaccine HT(TM) adjuvant for
use in pandemic influenza vaccines and seasonal influenza vaccines in elderly
people.
More than 300 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine are produced each year
globally, leaving a considerable shortfall in the event of a pandemic influenza
outbreak. A powerful adjuvant such as CoVaccine HT(TM) may reduce the amount of
antigen required in a pandemic influenza vaccine, enabling rapid, large scale
production in the event of a pandemic influenza outbreak and for planned
stockpiling. In addition, the CoVaccine HT(TM) adjuvant may increase the
potency of a seasonal influenza vaccine for elderly people with impaired immune
systems.
The licensing agreement gives Nobilon the exclusive global rights, excluding the
US, to develop, manufacture and commercialize two new influenza vaccines
containing CoVaccine HT(TM). Protherics will receive an upfront payment from
Nobilon on signing the agreement. Protherics is also entitled to receive
success related milestone payments and royalty payments on net sales by Nobilon.
Also announced today, Nobilon and a consortium of leading European vaccine
experts has received a EUR3.5 million grant to help fund the development of a
pandemic influenza vaccine containing CoVaccine HT.
Han van den Bosch, director Research and Development of Nobilon commented: "We
are delighted to have gained exclusive access to CoVaccine HT, a promising new
adjuvant from Protherics, for use in our flu vaccines. The very encouraging
results in preclinical experiments using Nobilon's influenza antigen produced by
cell culture and Protherics' CoVaccine HT adjuvant, justifies further clinical
development."
Andrew Heath, Chief Executive of Protherics commented: "The agreement with
Nobilon today supports our excitement about the prospects for our CoVaccine HT
adjuvant, which we are also incorporating in our Angiotensin Therapeutic
Vaccine. We also have considerable interest from other external parties to use
our adjuvant in their vaccines across a range of other potential indications."
For further information please contact:
Protherics
Andrew Heath, CEO +44 (0) 20 7246 9950
Nick Staples, Director of Corporate Affairs +44 (0) 7919 480510
Saul Komisar, President Protherics Inc +1 615 327 1027
Financial Dynamics - press enquiries
London: Ben Atwell, Lara Mott +44 (0) 20 7831 3113
New York: John Capodanno, Jonathan Birt +1 212 850 5600
Or visit www.protherics.com
Notes for Editors:
About the CoVaccine HT(TM) Adjuvant
An adjuvant is a substance which enhances the immune response and so helps
maximise the production of antibodies. The CoVaccine HT(TM) adjuvant is a
sucrose fatty acid sulphate ester that increases both humoral and cell-mediated
immune responses to experimental vaccines following intramuscular
administration. In nonclinical studies, the adjuvant has been well-tolerated
with no limiting local toxicity, and has produced encouraging immune responses.
About Protherics
Protherics (LSE: PTI, NASDAQ: PTIL) is a leading biopharmaceutical company
focused on the development, manufacture and marketing of specialised products
for critical care and cancer.
Protherics has developed and manufactures two critical care products currently
sold in the US: CroFab(TM), a pit viper antivenom and DigiFab(TM), a digoxin
antidote. The Company's strategy is to use the revenues generated from its
marketed and out-licensed products to help fund the advancement of its broad,
late stage pipeline.
Protherics has two major development opportunities in its critical care
portfolio. CytoFab(TM) is being developed by AstraZeneca, for the treatment of
severe sepsis, following a major £195 million (more than $340 million) licensing
deal in December 2005. An additional, expanded phase II programme is planned to
start in the second half of 2007. In addition, Protherics is currently
undertaking a phase IIb study with Digoxin Immune Fab for the treatment of
pre-eclampsia. This study is expected to report in the first half of 2008.
Protherics has a pipeline of four novel cancer products in clinical development,
and intends to undertake the sales and marketing of these products in the US or
the EU. Protherics is preparing to resubmit a BLA for Voraxaze(TM), an adjunct
to high dose methotrexate therapy, under a rolling submission in the US starting
in early 2008.
Protherics has a strong cash position, with unaudited cash balances at 30 June
2007 of £45m. With headquarters in London, the Company has approximately 270
employees across its operations in the UK, US and Australia.
For further information visit: www.protherics.com
About Nobilon
Nobilon International BV, part of Organon, a biopharmaceutical business unit of
Akzo Nobel, was founded in 2003. It has production and R&D facilities in
Boxmeer and Oss, the Netherlands. The biotechnology company is dedicated to
develop, produce and market human vaccines against infectious diseases, building
on existing expertise within sister companies Intervet and Organon. Nobilon
focuses on respiratory and traveler's diseases. One of its core expertises is
large scale cell culture production of viruses, including influenza. Nobilon
currently employs approximately 75 staff in production and R&D: www.nobilon.com
Disclaimer
This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties, including with respect to Protherics' product pipeline and
anticipated development and clinical trials for product candidates. Although we
believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable at this time, we can give no assurance that such expectations will
prove to be correct. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Actual results could
differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements due
to many important factors, including the factors discussed in Protherics' Annual
Report on Form 20-F and other reports filed from time to time with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake to update any oral or
written forward-looking statements that may be made by or on behalf of
Protherics.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
Protherics PLC announces License
| Source: Protherics PLC
Cheshire, UK--(Marketwire - September 26, 2007) -