Fully Human Antibody Significantly Inhibits Inflammation
FREMONT, Calif., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Abgenix, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABGX)
reported in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology (Volume 66, p.401-410)
encouraging results of preclinical studies with its proprietary fully human
monoclonal antibody, ABX-IL8. Developed using the company's XenoMouse(TM)
technology, ABX-IL8 targets Interleukin-8 (IL-8), which is a cytokine that can
cause unwanted inflammation by enabling immune cells, including neutrophils,
to migrate to sites of inflammation and activating them. There is substantial
evidence that IL-8 contributes to a number of inflammatory diseases, including
psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
As reported in a paper titled, "Fully Human Anti-Interleukin-8 Monoclonal
Antibodies: Potential Therapeutics for the Treatment of Inflammatory Disease
States," Abgenix scientists demonstrated the potent anti-inflammation activity
of ABX-IL8 by showing that ABX-IL8 binds IL-8 with high affinity (Kd = 2.1 x
10 (-10th)M), blocks IL-8 binding to neutrophils, and inhibits neutrophil
activation and migration. In a rabbit model, ABX-IL8 significantly inhibited
IL-8-induced skin inflammation. Abgenix scientists also reported the
encouraging pharmacokinetic data of ABX-IL8 in non-human primates.
"We believe that these results indicate the potential of ABX-IL8 as a
treatment for a variety of inflammatory diseases," stated R. Scott Greer,
president and chief executive officer of Abgenix. "Inhibiting neutrophil
migration and activation may complement other therapeutic approaches to these
diseases."
ABX-IL8 was chosen for clinical development from more than 50
high-affinity antibodies generated with the company's XenoMouse technology. By
providing multiple antibodies from which to choose, XenoMouse technology
offers Abgenix and its partners the opportunity to enter clinical trials with
an optimum product candidate.
Abgenix completed a Phase I trial of ABX-IL8 in 33 patients with moderate
to severe psoriasis last year and recently completed enrollment of a Phase
I/II multi-dose trial with 42 psoriasis patients. ABX-IL8 is also being tested
in a pilot study with rheumatoid arthritis patients. In the Phase I trial,
ABX-IL8 demonstrated a three-week half-life, equivalent to that of naturally
occurring human antibodies, and no immune reaction to ABX-IL8 was observed.
This result supports the potential of fully human antibodies to allow repeat
administration at lower doses in patients with competent immune systems.
Abgenix is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and intends to
commercialize antibody therapeutic products for the treatment of a variety of
disease conditions, including transplant-related diseases, inflammatory and
autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Abgenix has developed
XenoMouse technology, which it believes enables quick generation of high
affinity, fully human antibody product candidates to essentially any disease
target appropriate for antibody therapy. Abgenix has collaborative
arrangements with multiple pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
involving its XenoMouse technology. In addition, Abgenix has four proprietary
antibody product candidates that are under development internally, three of
which are in human clinical trials.
Statements made in this press release about the potential of ABX-IL8 as a
treatment for inflammatory diseases, Abgenix's XenoMouse technology, product
development activities and collaborative arrangements other than statements of
historical fact, are forward looking statements and are subject to a number of
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
statements made, including risks associated with the success of clinical
trials, the progress of research and product development programs, the
regulatory approval process, competitive products, future capital requirements
and the extent and breadth of Abgenix's patent portfolio. Please see Abgenix's
public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information
about risks that may affect Abgenix.
SOURCE Abgenix, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.abgenix.com
CONTACT:
investors, Amy B. Giller, 415-677-4455, ext.
206, or media, Amy Flood 415-677-4455, ext. 211, both of
Noonan/Russo Communications for Abgenix, Inc.; or Kurt
Leutzinger, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
Abgenix, Inc., 510-608-6575
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