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Nicholas Nicolaides Morphotek, Inc. 610-423-6100 info@morphotek.comBryan Evans Reverb—DBC 215-957-0300 bevans@dbcommunications.net
Company Embarks on Development of Novel Biologicals for Therapeutic and Prophylactic Treatment Against Botulinum Neurotoxin Biowarfare Agents
Exton, Pa. – September 18, 2007 – Morphotek, Inc., a subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that the company has received $2.3M funding approval from the U.S. Department of Defense to support the development of biologic-based monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies against biowarfare agents.
The proceeds, which will be received by Morphotek over the next nine months, will be used to help further develop mAbs targeting Botulinum neurotoxins (BNTs) as treatment for this class of highly toxic biowarfare agents. By employing Morphotek’s proprietary antibody technologies, the company has developed multiple mAbs that are able to bind and neutralize the toxic effects elicited by BNTs.
“We are extremely pleased to receive recognition and support by the Department of Defense to develop these important compounds in our efforts to create novel therapies against biowarfare threats,” said Nicholas Nicolaides, Ph.D., President and CEO of Morphotek. “The further development of these compounds will enable us to advance these leads into clinical studies for validation and registration.”
The development of these lead mAb molecules, and the advancement into clinical trials for proof of concept, will enable the availability of valuable therapeutic mAbs to both the public and military personnel exposed or at threat of being exposed to BNTs.
These programs are made possible through a collaborative effort between Morphotek and scientists at The United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), a Science and Technology Laboratory of the U.S. Army at Fort Detrick, MD. The programs are consistent with Morphotek’s and Eisai's human health care (hhc) mission to "satisfy unmet medical needs and increase the benefits to the patients and their families".
Morphotek®, Inc., a subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd., is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of protein and antibody products through the use of a novel and proprietary gene evolution technology. The technology has been successfully applied to a broad variety of cell lines and organisms to yield genetically diverse offspring that are suitable for pharmaceutical product development in the areas of antibody therapeutics, protein therapeutics, product manufacturing, drug target discovery, and improved output traits for commercial applications. The company is currently focusing its platform on the development and manufacturing of therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and infectious disease. For more information, please visit www.morphotek.com.
About USAMRIID
The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), located at Fort Detrick, Maryland, conducts research to develop strategies, products, information, procedures, and training programs for medical defense against biological warfare threats and naturally occurring infectious diseases that require special containment. USAMRIID, an organization of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), is the lead medical research laboratory for the U.S. Biological Defense Research Program. The Institute plays a key role in national defense and in infectious disease research as the largest biocontainment laboratory in the Department of Defense (DOD) for the study of hazardous diseases.
About Eisai Co., Ltd.
Eisai Co., Ltd. is a research-based human health care (hhc) company that discovers, develops and markets products throughout the world. Eisai focuses its efforts in three areas of therapeutic focus: Integrative neuroscience including neurology and psychiatric medicines; gastrointestinal disorders; and integrative oncology including oncotherapy and supportive-care treatments. Through a global network of research facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, Eisai actively participates in all aspects of the worldwide health care system. Eisai employs more than 9,000 people worldwide and reported worldwide sales of 674.1 billion in FY2006. More than 50 percent of the group sales are derived from overseas business. For more information, please visit www.eisai.co.jp.
The information contained in this press release does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the Government and no official endorsement should be inferred.