Mar 1 2010
SIMPLE Antibody(TM) Platform Delivers Unprecedented Choice
of Ultra-Potent Functional Antibody Leads Against Challenging Soluble
and Cell Surface Targets.
- ARGX-109, a Fully Human mAb Targeting Autoimmune,
Inflammation and Oncology Indications, Enters Preclinical Development
in Less Than 12 Months From Start of Discovery.
arGEN-X, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and
development of human monoclonal antibodies using its proprietary SIMPLE
Antibody(TM) platform, announces that it will provide an update on the
development of this unique platform and its own antibody pipeline during the
BIO-Europe Spring event in Barcelona (March 8-10, 2010).
Tim Van Hauwermeiren, the CEO of arGEN-X, will highlight a series of
important technical breakthroughs during his presentation, demonstrating the
power of the Company's SIMPLE Antibody(TM) platform to deliver multiple,
diverse, ultra-potent functional antibodies that are able to blanket any
target, regardless of its complexity.
He will also outline the very rapid progress that arGEN-X has made in
building its own pipeline with its lead product ARGX-109, which entered
preclinical development less than 12 months from the start of the discovery
process. ARGX-109 was chosen from a panel of 65 functional antagonists
generated against IL-6, a cytokine that plays an important role in several
autoimmune, inflammation and oncology indications.
arGEN-X' SIMPLE Antibody(TM) Platform is based on the active immunisation
of outbred Camelids with target antigen to deliver antibodies whose variable
regions are virtually identical to those of human antibodies. These variable
domains are combined with human constant domains to generate full size, fully
human therapeutic antibodies.
SIMPLE Antibodies routinely exhibit gold-standard potency and
manufacturability without the need for additional engineering, making them an
ideal starting point for a therapeutic antibody development program.
Prof. Hans de Haard, CSO of arGEN-X commenting on the SIMPLE Antibody(TM)
platorm said:
"The work that we have conducted in the past six months has clearly
demonstrated the power of our SIMPLE Antibody(TM) platform and its potential
to transform the development of therapeutic antibodies. We have tested its
full potential by selecting as targets two highly challenging receptors known
to play a pivotal role in cancer. In just a matter of weeks, we managed to
generate an incredibly diverse panel of ultra-potent antagonist antibodies,
effectively blanketing these targets in a way that, according to our expert
collaborators, has never been seen before. Given the outstanding
manufacturability of our human antibody leads, we are now in a position to
further develop candidates with the best possible drug characteristics in
record time."
arGEN-X intends to use the power of the SIMPLE Antibody(TM) platform to
build its business by making its technology and know-how available to
biopharmaceutical companies through selective strategic partnerships and
adding more exciting programs to its preclinical portfolio.
Tim Van Hauwermeiren, CEO of arGEN-X commenting on the progress with the
Company's own antibody pipeline said:
"Our lead program has already been remarkably productive, identifying 65
unique IL-6 antagonists with potencies in the picomolar to femtomolar range.
Both lead and back-up molecules in this program have shown impressive
performance in in vivo efficacy studies less than a year from project
commencement, and are now being progressed into preclinical development. We
are extremely pleased with how quickly we have progressed all four of our
internal programs. The progress that we have made so far with our platform
and pipeline gives us great confidence in building a high-value business that
makes us an attractive partner for big pharma."
The power of the SIMPLE Antibody(TM) platform has enabled arGEN-X to
close a recent EUR12.5 milion Series A fund raising. The round was backed by
a range of leading European life science investors including Forbion Capital
Partners, LSP, Credit Agricole Private Equity, KBC Private Equity,
BioGeneration Ventures, Erasmus MC Biomedical Fund, Thuja Capital Healthcare
Funds, as well as the prestigious Belgian life sciences research institute
VIB.
SOURCE arGEN-X