MENTRIK Biotech acquired AME-133 (LY2469298), an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody under development for cancer treatment of B-cell non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other indications.

DALLAS, TX, USA I JAnuary 18, 2011 I MENTRIK Biotech, LLC is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of AME-133v (LY2469298), an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody under development for cancer treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other indications.

AME-133v is an intravenously administered, fully humanized, high-affinity immunoglobulin G subclass (IgG1) monoclonal antibody for which Phase I clinical development has been completed.

The CD20 antigen is a validated target for the treatment of patients with B-cell cancers like lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and for auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rituximab (Rituxan®), a first-generation human-mouse chimeric antibody has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and rheumatoid arthritis. AME-133v is a fully humanized, Fc-engineered, antibody and has been optimized through protein engineering both for increased affinity for CD20 and increased effector function in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), which may lead to superior efficacy and safety.

A Phase I/II clinical trial with AME-133v for the treatment of patients with previously treated follicular lymphoma has been completed. Sixty-seven patients were treated with AME-133v in this trial. The results showed that AME-133v is well tolerated and 375 mg/m² was confirmed as the recommended dose for future trials.

“We are very excited about this acquisition. The clinical results to date suggest that AME-133v has the potential to improve therapeutic options for patients with follicular lymphomas,” says Dr. Vinay Jain, CEO of MENTRIK Biotech.

MENTRIK acquired full rights to develop AME-133v for all human therapeutic, prophylactic, and diagnostic uses. The company intends to continue the development of AME-133v for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, Mantle cell lymphoma, and also chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In addition, MENTRIK will also investigate the potential clinical benefit of AME-133v for the treatment of auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

SOURCE: Mentrik Biotech