SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and SEATTLE, May 1 /PRNewswire/ --
Immunex (Nasdaq: IMNX) and Genentech (NYSE: DNA) today reiterated the
intention of the two companies to move forward in their collaborative
preclinical study of TRAIL/Apo2L in cancer research.
Published experiments, including in vitro and in vivo preclinical models,
demonstrates that the TRAIL/Apo2L molecule has the ability to kill a broad
cross section of human tumor cell types without significantly affecting the
survival of normal human cells (NATURE MEDICINE, Volume 5, Number 2,
February 1999). Based on these results, the two companies moved forward in
1999 with a joint preclinical research collaboration involving TRAIL/Apo2L.
Recently, the journal NATURE MEDICINE published a paper from the
University of Pittsburgh regarding a version of TRAIL/Apo2L made at the
University of Pittsburgh, material different from that used by scientists at
Genentech and Immunex. The paper describes an experiment regarding the
affects the University of Pittsburgh molecule has on isolated human
hepatocytes (human liver cells) in culture, concluding that this particular
form of the molecule induced the death of isolated human hepatocytes in
culture.
Previous experiments by scientists at Immunex and Genentech have shown
that different forms of the TRAIL/Apo2L molecule can demonstrate very
different biological properties. Scientists at the companies are
collaborating with the senior author of the experiment, Dr. Stephen Strom,
Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, to compare the University of
Pittsburgh TRAIL material with the Immunex/Genentech TRAIL/Apo2L material.
In collaboration with Dr. Strom, scientists at the companies are focused
on determining whether the TRAIL/Apo2L material being produced and studied by
Genentech/Immunex will have similar properties on isolated human hepatocytes
in culture to those observed with the University of Pittsburgh TRAIL molecule.
As planned, the future development of TRAIL/Apo2L will be based on the
results of numerous toxicology and other pre-clinical experiments, including
the results of the collaborative studies with Dr. Strom.
Genentech, Inc. is a leading biotechnology company that discovers,
develops, manufactures, and markets human pharmaceuticals for significant
unmet medical needs. Thirteen of the currently approved biotechnology
products stem from Genentech science. Genentech markets seven biotechnology
products directly in the United States. The company has headquarters in South
San Francisco, California, and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol DNA.
Immunex Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving
lives through immune system science innovations.
AHP owns a majority interest in Immunex. AHP is one of the world's largest
research-based pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a
leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of
prescription drugs, including biotechnological and vaccine products, animal
health care products and over-the-counter medications.
NOTE: This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with clinical development,
regulatory approvals, patent litigation, product commercialization, and other
risks described from time to time in the SEC reports filed by Immunex and
Genentech, including their most recently filed Form 10-Ks and Form 10-Qs. For
more information, please refer to http://www.immunex.com.
SOURCE Immunex Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.immunex.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/434644.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 434644
CONTACT:
Media, Tim Warner, 206-470-4193, or
Investors, Mark Leahy, 206-389-4346, both for Immunex
Corporation; or Media, Neil Cohen, 650-225-8681, or Investors,
Susan Bentley, 650-225-1034, both for Genentech, Inc.
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