-- Boehringer to License SynFusion(TM) and Transceptor(TM) Technologies --
WALTHAM, Mass. and INGELHEIM, Germany, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Syntonix
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that they have
entered into a collaboration to optimize certain Boehringer Ingelheim
therapeutic peptides for inhalation, using Syntonix' SynFusion(TM) and
Transceptor(TM) technologies. Under the terms of the agreement, Syntonix will
receive an upfront fee and research support. Boehringer Ingelheim has the
option to develop and commercialize the peptide candidates. Syntonix will
receive milestone and royalty payments on any products developed and
commercialized under the agreement.
"We believe that Syntonix' Transceptor and SynFusion technologies have the
potential to create significant improvements in the pulmonary delivery of
peptides to treat serious human diseases," commented Mikael Dolsten, M.D.,
Ph.D., Head of Corporate Division Pharma Research Boehringer Ingelheim.
"Boehringer Ingelheim is a leader in the field of inhaled pharmaceuticals.
We are especially pleased with this collaboration because it represents our
second major partnership involving an inhaled drug with a leading
pharmaceutical company this year and it is our first in the area of
therapeutic peptides," commented Alan Bitonti, Ph.D., Vice President, Research
and Development of Syntonix.
"Our technologies, Transceptor and SynFusion, enable both efficient
transport through the lung epithelium and an increase in the circulating half-
life of protein and peptide drugs. The ability to replace frequent injections
with better tolerated, less-frequent inhalation represents a significant
advancement with regard to patient convenience and compliance," continued Dr.
Bitonti.
About Syntonix' SynFusion(TM) and Transceptor(TM) Technologies
Syntonix' SynFusion drugs link the Fc region of an antibody to a drug in a
novel manner, providing longer-acting therapeutic proteins or peptides that
are injected less frequently. Syntonix' Transceptor technology uses the FcRn
transport pathway to enable the pulmonary delivery of SynFusion drugs with
high systemic bioavailability. Transceptor allows patients to breathe
normally using existing marketed inhaler devices.
About Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading
pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates
globally with 144 affiliates in 45 countries and nearly 36,000 employees.
Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to
researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high
therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.
In 2004, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of 8.2 billion euro while
spending nearly one fifth of net sales in its largest business segment
Prescription Medicines on research and development.
For more information please visit http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com.
About Syntonix
Syntonix is developing next generation biopharmaceuticals that enable
better treatment options for patients with devastating chronic diseases such
as hemophilia, anemia, multiple sclerosis, and autoimmune disorders. The
company applies its core technologies to develop longer-acting
biopharmaceuticals that may be inhaled or injected less frequently, and to
discover novel drugs to treat antibody-mediated autoimmune and inflammatory
disorders. The resulting proteins, peptides and antibodies are being
commercialized through internal development programs and collaborations with
biotechnology and pharmaceutical partners. More information is available at
http://www.syntnx.com.
For more information, please contact:
Media Relations:
Kari Watson
MacDougall Biomedical Communications
Tel: +1 508 647 0209
kwatson@macbiocom.com
Corporate and Investor Relations:
John Ripple
Acting President
Syntonix Pharmaceuticals
Tel: +1 781 547 5288
jripple@syntnx.com
SOURCE Syntonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.syntnx.com
http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com
CONTACT:
Media Relations: Kari Watson of MacDougall
Biomedical Communications, +1-508-647-0209,
kwatson@macbiocom.com; or Corporate and Investor Relations: John
Ripple, Acting President of Syntonix Pharmaceuticals,
+1-781-547-5288, jripple@syntnx.com
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