BioWa announces the addition of COMPLEGENT(TM) Technology, a proprietary, robust CDC enhancement tool, which will be made available to its partners under license with POTELLIGENT(R) Technology to create AccretaMab(TM), which have the potential to be the ultimate antibody warriors to annihilate tumor cells

PRINCETON, NJ, USA | July 30, 2007 | BioWa announced today that it has licensed from Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd (TSE:4151), its parent company, the exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize the COMPLEGENT(TM) Technology. BioWa will make COMPLEGENT(TM) Technology available to its partners under license with POTELLIGENT(R) Technology, providing AccretaMab(TM) platform, a new class of antibodies to fight cancers and other life-threatening diseases.

COMPLEGENT(TM) is a new technology that robustly enhances complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), a major mechanism of action of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (Mabs). To create a CDC-enhanced Mab, Kyowa Hakko scientists employ isotype chimerism, an approach in which portions of IgG3, a Mab isotype, were introduced into corresponding regions of IgG1, the standard isotype for therapeutic Mabs. COMPLEGENT(TM) Technology greatly enhances CDC activity beyond that of either IgG1 or IgG3, while retaining the desirable features of IgG1, such as ADCC, PK profile and Protein A binding.

The AccretaMab(TM) platform combines the strength, effectiveness and simplicity of POTELLIGENT(R) Technology in conjunction with COMPLEGENT(TM) Technology, creating a superior therapeutic Mab with enhanced ADCC and CDC activities. Although Mabs are a heavily pursued drug class which show promise as a therapeutic, they still have not proved themselves as a monotherapy, especially in the area of oncology. As a new class of Mabs, AccretaMabs differentiate themselves by having increased cytotoxic potential against cancer cells since they have enhanced effector functions of both ADCC and CDC. As a result of the dual enhancement of cytotoxic activity, AccretaMabs are expected to be active at doses much lower than are currently used for conventional Mabs. In addition, AccretaMabs are expected to have less side effects compared to antibodies carrying radioisotopes or toxic payloads.

As the exclusive worldwide licensor of POTELLIGENT(R) and COMPLEGENT(TM) Technologies, and with the launch of the revolutionary AccretaMab(TM) platform, BioWa is committed to providing breakthrough treatments for human health through licensing the technologies to biotech and pharmaceutical companies as well as developing its own therapeutic Mabs.

About POTELLIGENT(R) Technology
POTELLIGENT(R) Technology improves potency and efficacy of antibody therapeutics, by enhancing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), one of the major mechanisms of antibody therapeutics. POTELLIGENT(R) Technology involves the reduction of the amount of fucose in the carbohydrate structure of an antibody using a proprietary fucosyltransferase-knockout CHO cell line as a production cell. Research shows that POTELLIGENT(R) Technology significantly enhances ADCC activity of an antibody in vitro, thereby increasing the potential for improved activity in vivo.

About BioWa, Inc.
BioWa is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd., Japan’s pharmaceutical and largest biotech company, and is the exclusive worldwide licensor of POTELLIGENT(R) Technology, which creates high ADCC monoclonal antibodies and COMPLEGENT(TM) Technology, which enhances CDC activity of monoclonal antibodies. Currently, BioWa is developing ADCC enhanced monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics to fight cancer and other life-threatening and debilitating diseases and both BioWa and Kyowa have POTELLIGENT(R) antibody products in various clinical stages. BioWa creates and develops enhanced ADCC antibodies for itself and others, offering a full range of antibody discovery and development capabilities. For more information about BioWa, visit its web site at http://www.biowa.com .

POTELLIGENT(R), COMPLEGENT(TM), and AccretaMab(TM) are the trademarks of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. All rights are reserved.

SOURCE: BioWa, Inc.