Plans Expansion of Clinical Development for Fully Human Antibody Products
FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Abgenix, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABGX) has
named Gisela Schwab, M.D., a hematologist and oncologist, as the new Vice
President of Clinical Development. Dr. Schwab brings extensive U.S. and
international clinical and regulatory experience to Abgenix, a
biopharmaceutical company that develops and intends to commercialize antibody
therapies for the treatment of such conditions as transplant-related diseases,
inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
"Dr. Schwab's far-reaching experience and expertise in clinical product
development, both in the United States and abroad, will be very valuable to
Abgenix as we expand our portfolio of fully human antibody products," stated
R. Scott Greer, president and CEO of Abgenix.
Prior to joining Abgenix, Dr. Schwab spent seven years with Amgen, most
recently as team leader for the Hematology/Oncology Therapeutic Area with
responsibility for worldwide clinical trials. Before joining Amgen,
Dr. Schwab spent five years at National Cancer Institute, part of the U.S.
government's National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, Md.), and French
National Institute of Health and Research (Paris).
Abgenix developed XenoMouse(TM) technology to enable the rapid 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 multiple
proprietary antibody product candidates under development internally, three of
which are in human clinical trials. The company completed a Phase II clinical
trial with ABX-CBL in graft versus host disease and is preparing the next
trial. Earlier this month, Abgenix announced the completion of a Phase I/II
clinical trial with ABX-IL8 in psoriasis. Results of this trial are expected
later this year, and the company is preparing for one or more Phase II trials
with ABX-IL8 for 2000. A clinical trial with ABX-EGF, the company's lead
cancer product, began earlier this year. In addition to these programs,
Abgenix plans to bring one or more antibody products into clinical trials each
year. With the arrival of Dr. Schwab, Abgenix also plans to further expand
its clinical development organization as the company's product pipeline
deepens.
Statements made in this press release about 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:
Kurt Leutzinger, Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of Abgenix Inc., 510-608-6575
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