Plans to Accelerate Development of MRSA and HIV Drugs
PINE BROOK, N.J., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Elusys Therapeutics Inc., a
privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of
targeted anti-infective therapeutics, today announced that it has raised
USD $11 million in an extension of its Series D financing round, bringing
the total of the round to USD $23 million. As part of this extension,
MedImmune Ventures, Inc. joined current investors including Essex Woodlands
Health Ventures LLC, Crescendo Ventures and Invesco Private Capital.
Elizabeth Posillico, Ph.D., President & CEO of Elusys Therapeutics
commented on the announcement, "Elusys is very pleased to welcome MedImmune
Ventures to our investor group. This new venture funding will accelerate
the development of our HP Antibody pipeline targeting drug resistant
infections. Our lead HP Antibody candidate, ETI-211, targets
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and has shown
significant in-vivo efficacy. An IND for this candidate is scheduled to be
filed in 2007. Further, we will continue to advance development of
additional HP Antibody candidates, including an HIV drug designed to target
and clear HIV virus from circulation."
In April 2006, Elusys announced that it entered into an exclusive
licensing and collaboration agreement with MedImmune, Inc. to develop new
therapeutics using Elusys' proprietary Heteropolymer Antibodies. Under this
agreement, the companies will collaborate on certain targets of specific
interest to MedImmune, excluding ETI-211 for MRSA and clinical candidates
for HIV.
About HP Antibody Drugs
Heteropolymer (HP) Antibodies represent a new approach for the
treatment of antibiotic resistant infections, distinct from traditional
antibody therapy. HP Antibodies utilize natural immune system mechanisms to
clear pathogens and provide a means to develop novel drug candidates
targeted against bacterial, viral and fungal infections. By targeting a
unique immune receptor (CR1), HP Antibodies enhance a natural clearance
mechanism and direct the rapid removal of pathogens from the circulation
through tissue macrophages. An animation of this unique technology is
provided via this link: http://www.elusys.com/technology_hp_animation.php
About ETI-211
ETI-211 is a proprietary HP Antibody drug being developed to treat
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. In
previously reported studies, mice given ETI-211 prophylactically were
completely protected against a lethal MRSA challenge. Further, all ETI-211
treated animals survived a second lethal challenge of either MRSA or S.
epidermidis months later with no additional drug treatment.
This broad "vaccine-like" protection was found to be due, in large
part, to the production of significant levels of antibodies that recognize
S. aureus, and S. epidermidis, as a result of ETI-211 treatment during the
first infection.
About Elusys
Elusys is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on the
development of targeted anti-infective therapeutics using its proprietary
HP Antibodies for the treatment of infectious disease. For more information
please visit http://www.elusys.com/
SOURCE Elusys Therapeutics Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.elusys.com
http://www.elusys.com/technology_hp_animation.php
CONTACT:
Donna LaVoie, +1-978-745-4200 ext. 103,
dlavoie@lavoiegroup.com, or Bryan Murphy, +1-978-745-4200, ext.
105, bmurphy@lavoiegroup.com, both of LaVoie Group, both for
Elusys Therapeutics Inc.
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