ROCKVILLE, Md. and MONROVIA, Calif., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) and Xencor, Inc. today announced
a collaboration agreement under which Xencor will apply its proprietary
XmAb(TM) humanization and optimization technologies to enhance the
pharmacologic properties of monoclonal antibodies developed by HGS that
specifically target antigens discovered by HGS.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010612/HGSLOGO )
"The priority focus of HGS continues to be the rapid commercialization
of our late-stage compounds - Albuferon(R) for hepatitis C, LymphoStat-B(R)
for lupus, and ABthrax(TM) for inhalation anthrax. We also have an exciting
mid- stage pipeline led by our oncology program," said H. Thomas Watkins,
President and Chief Executive Officer, HGS. "Today's announcement
demonstrates our continuing commitment to targeted innovation based on HGS
discoveries and our extensive intellectual property estate. We look forward
to working with Xencor to maximize the therapeutic potential of several
important new HGS product candidates."
Under the terms of the agreement, Xencor will receive an upfront
payment and is eligible to receive additional payments including
development and commercial milestones, and royalties on any products
commercialized under the agreement. HGS will be responsible for all
preclinical and clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
"This collaboration further validates the breadth of our XmAb
technology platform," commented Bassil Dahiyat, Ph.D., President and CEO of
Xencor. "Our proprietary tools optimize the complete antibody structure,
including the Fc region to improve potency and half-life and variable
region humanization and affinity optimization. We look forward to working
with Human Genome Sciences to create novel, best-in-class biotherapeutics
that are more effective in treating unmet medical needs while we continue
to advance our internal pipeline of XmAb antibody candidates."
About XmAb(TM) Technologies
Xencor's XmAb engineered Fc domains are designed to enhance the
therapeutic properties of monoclonal antibodies and can be inserted into
antibody candidates against any target antigen to improve one or more
important effector functions, including enhanced antibody-mediated tumor
cell killing, extended half-life and selective regulation of immune cells.
The XmAb(TM) Fv technology generates high-quality human sequence diversity
in antibody variable domains in order to improve affinity, stability and
production yield.
About Xencor, Inc.
Xencor, Inc. engineers superior biotherapeutics using its proprietary
Protein Design Automation(R) technology platform and is a leader in the
field of antibody Fc engineering to significantly improve antibody potency
and half- life. The company is advancing XmAb(TM) antibody drug candidates
optimized for activity against biologically validated targets and its
XPro(TM) protein therapeutic candidate into the clinic. Xencor's product
development is led by an antibody candidate, XmAb(TM)2513, for the
treatment of Hodgkin's disease and T-cell lymphoma, and a protein
therapeutic drug candidate, XPro(TM)1595 DN-TNF, for the treatment of
inflammatory disease. With multiple partners, such as industry leaders
Genentech, Boehringer Ingelheim, Centocor and MedImmune, Xencor is applying
its suite of XmAb antibody Fc domains to improve antibody drug candidates
for traits such as potency and sustained half-life. For more information,
please visit http://www.xencor.com.
About Human Genome Sciences
The mission of HGS is to apply great science and great medicine to
bring innovative drugs to patients with unmet medical needs.
The HGS clinical development pipeline includes novel drugs to treat
hepatitis C, lupus, anthrax disease, cancer and other immune-mediated
diseases. The Company's primary focus is rapid progress toward the
commercialization of its two key lead drugs, Albuferon for hepatitis C and
LymphoStat-B (belimumab) for lupus. Phase 3 clinical trials of both drugs
are ongoing.
ABthrax (raxibacumab) is in late-stage development for the treatment of
anthrax disease, and the Company is on track to begin the delivery in fall
2008 of 20,000 doses of ABthrax to the Strategic National Stockpile under a
contract entered into with the U.S. Government in June 2006. Other HGS
drugs in clinical development include two TRAIL receptor antibodies for the
treatment of cancer. AEG40826, a small-molecule antagonist of IAP
(inhibitor of apoptosis) proteins, is expected to enter Phase 1 clinical
trials for the treatment of cancer in early 2008. In addition, HGS has
substantial financial rights to certain products in the GlaxoSmithKline
clinical development pipeline.
For more information about HGS, please visit the Company's web site at
http://www.hgsi.com. Health professionals or patients interested in clinical
trials of HGS products may inquire via the "Contact Us" section of the
Company's web site, http://www.hgsi.com/products/request.html, or by calling (301)
610-5790, extension 3550.
HGS, Human Genome Sciences, ABthrax, Albuferon and LymphoStat-B are
trademarks of Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
HGS Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The
forward-looking statements are based on Human Genome Sciences' current
intent, belief and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of
future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that
are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from these
forward-looking statements because of the Company's unproven business
model, its dependence on new technologies, the uncertainty and timing of
clinical trials, the Company's ability to develop and commercialize
products, its dependence on collaborators for services and revenue, its
substantial indebtedness and lease obligations, its changing requirements
and costs associated with facilities, intense competition, the uncertainty
of patent and intellectual property protection, the Company's dependence on
key management and key suppliers, the uncertainty of regulation of
products, the impact of future alliances or transactions and other risks
described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In addition, the Company will continue to face risks related to
animal and human testing, to the manufacture of ABthrax and to FDA
concurrence that ABthrax meets the requirements of the ABthrax contract. If
the Company is unable to meet the product requirements associated with the
ABthrax contract, the U.S. government will not be required to reimburse the
Company for the costs incurred or to purchase any ABthrax doses. Existing
and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today's date.
Human Genome Sciences undertakes no obligation to update or revise the
information contained in this announcement whether as a result of new
information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
SOURCE Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.hgsi.com
http://www.xencor.com
Photo Notes:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010612/HGSLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org PRN Photo Desk
photodesk@prnewswire.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/121115.html /
CONTACT:
Jerry Parrott, Vice President, Corporate
Communications, +1-301-315-2777, Kate de Santis, Director,
Investor Relations, +1-301-251-6003, both of Human Genome
Sciences, Inc.; Kim Richards, Porter Novelli Life Sciences,
+1-619-849-5377, krichards@pnlifesciences.com, for Xencor
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