Evotec and Apeiron Biologics announced that they have entered into a further discovery project on the Cbl-b target, an excellent target for anti-tumor immune therapy
HAMBURG, Germany | October 20, 2011 | Evotec AG (Frankfurt:EVT.F – News) (TecDAX) and Apeiron Biologics AG today announced that they have entered into a further discovery project on the Cbl-b target, an excellent target for anti-tumor immune therapy.
Cbl-b plays a role in both the adaptive and the innate immune system and its manipulation therefore can effectively enhance anti-tumor activities both for tumor antigen-specific cells and for those recognizing general features of tumor cells.
Evotec will apply their skills and proprietary technologies in cellular assay development and ultra-high throughput screening (uHTS) to identify biologically active molecules from its corporate library that interact with Cbl-b. The aim of the collaboration will be to take compounds identified by Evotec as being active against this target or other relevant targets and further jointly optimize them as basis for formal preclinical and clinical development.
Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec, commented: "We are very pleased to start a new project with Apeiron. It is strategically important to be involved in high promising early stage biotech projects."
Dr Hans Loibner, Chief Executive Officer at Apeiron Biologics, commented: "Apeiron’s substantial expertise in applied immunology and cancer immunotherapy plus Evotec’s remarkable skills in high-throughput methodology are an excellent basis for the successful identification and development of novel drugs that enhance the power of the immune system to combat cancer. This growing area has major clinical and commercial potential. "
No financial details are disclosed.
ABOUT EVOTEC AG
Evotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company focused on rapidly progressing innovative product approaches with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. We operate worldwide providing the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery solutions, covering all activities from target-to-clinic. The Company has established a unique position by assembling top-class scientific experts and integrating state- of-the-art technologies as well as substantial experience and expertise in key therapeutic areas including neuroscience, pain, metabolic diseases as well as oncology and inflammation. Evotec has long-term discovery alliances with partners including Boehringer Ingelheim, CHDI, Genentech, Medimmune/Astra Zeneca, Novartis and Ono Pharmaceutical. In addition, the Company has existing development partnerships and product candidates both in clinical and preclinical development. These include partnerships with Boehringer Ingelheim, MedImmune and with Andromeda (Teva) in the field of diabetes. For additional information please go to www.evotec.com.
ABOUT APEIRON BIOLOGICS AG
Apeiron is a privately financed biotech company based in Vienna, Austria. Apeiron focuses on biological and immunological treatments of cancer. Apeiron’s project portfolio consists of five projects in clinical evaluation and four preclinical projects. Clinical projects include two antibody-based therapies against high-risk neuroblastoma in Phase II and III (APN301 and APN311). Also in clinical stage is a liposomal formulation of recombinant human Superoxide Dismutase (APN201) to prevent or treat skin damage due to radiation treatment in cancer. A further clinical project, recombinant human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (APN01), was licensed to GlaxoSmithKline early 2010. It is expected to commence a Phase II study for the treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the near future and has considerable potential in other disease areas. A unique customized cellular cancer immunotherapy based on ex-vivo silencing of immune cells also utilizes the Cbl-b target and is close to Phase I (APN401). Apeiron is operational since 2006 and presently employs 25 people. www.apeiron-biologics.com.
SOURCE: Evotec AG
Post Views: 34
Evotec and Apeiron Biologics announced that they have entered into a further discovery project on the Cbl-b target, an excellent target for anti-tumor immune therapy
HAMBURG, Germany | October 20, 2011 | Evotec AG (Frankfurt:EVT.F – News) (TecDAX) and Apeiron Biologics AG today announced that they have entered into a further discovery project on the Cbl-b target, an excellent target for anti-tumor immune therapy.
Cbl-b plays a role in both the adaptive and the innate immune system and its manipulation therefore can effectively enhance anti-tumor activities both for tumor antigen-specific cells and for those recognizing general features of tumor cells.
Evotec will apply their skills and proprietary technologies in cellular assay development and ultra-high throughput screening (uHTS) to identify biologically active molecules from its corporate library that interact with Cbl-b. The aim of the collaboration will be to take compounds identified by Evotec as being active against this target or other relevant targets and further jointly optimize them as basis for formal preclinical and clinical development.
Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec, commented: "We are very pleased to start a new project with Apeiron. It is strategically important to be involved in high promising early stage biotech projects."
Dr Hans Loibner, Chief Executive Officer at Apeiron Biologics, commented: "Apeiron’s substantial expertise in applied immunology and cancer immunotherapy plus Evotec’s remarkable skills in high-throughput methodology are an excellent basis for the successful identification and development of novel drugs that enhance the power of the immune system to combat cancer. This growing area has major clinical and commercial potential. "
No financial details are disclosed.
ABOUT EVOTEC AG
Evotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company focused on rapidly progressing innovative product approaches with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. We operate worldwide providing the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery solutions, covering all activities from target-to-clinic. The Company has established a unique position by assembling top-class scientific experts and integrating state- of-the-art technologies as well as substantial experience and expertise in key therapeutic areas including neuroscience, pain, metabolic diseases as well as oncology and inflammation. Evotec has long-term discovery alliances with partners including Boehringer Ingelheim, CHDI, Genentech, Medimmune/Astra Zeneca, Novartis and Ono Pharmaceutical. In addition, the Company has existing development partnerships and product candidates both in clinical and preclinical development. These include partnerships with Boehringer Ingelheim, MedImmune and with Andromeda (Teva) in the field of diabetes. For additional information please go to www.evotec.com.
ABOUT APEIRON BIOLOGICS AG
Apeiron is a privately financed biotech company based in Vienna, Austria. Apeiron focuses on biological and immunological treatments of cancer. Apeiron’s project portfolio consists of five projects in clinical evaluation and four preclinical projects. Clinical projects include two antibody-based therapies against high-risk neuroblastoma in Phase II and III (APN301 and APN311). Also in clinical stage is a liposomal formulation of recombinant human Superoxide Dismutase (APN201) to prevent or treat skin damage due to radiation treatment in cancer. A further clinical project, recombinant human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (APN01), was licensed to GlaxoSmithKline early 2010. It is expected to commence a Phase II study for the treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in the near future and has considerable potential in other disease areas. A unique customized cellular cancer immunotherapy based on ex-vivo silencing of immune cells also utilizes the Cbl-b target and is close to Phase I (APN401). Apeiron is operational since 2006 and presently employs 25 people. www.apeiron-biologics.com.
SOURCE: Evotec AG
Post Views: 34
