IMUC signs exclusive licensing agreement with Targepeutics for acquisition of IL-13Ra2 receptor

Jun 23 2010

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics (OTCBB: IMUC), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing new immune-based products to treat cancer, today announced it has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Targepeutics, Inc. for ImmunoCellular's acquisition of Targepeutics' worldwide intellectual property rights surrounding the IL-13 receptor, alpha 2 (IL13Ra2). The agreement includes Targepeutics' rights under an issued U.S. patent and under certain other issued or pending patents and applications.

“We have been working towards targeting the IL-13Ra2 receptor in the clinic for some time and this validation based on phase I data seen so far has given us hope for advances in brain cancer treatment that have not been seen in the past.”

IL-13Ra2 is abundantly expressed in a number of malignancies, including cancers of brain, ovary and prostate, and is a target of ICT-107, ImmunoCellular's lead active immunotherapy candidate for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme, the most prevalent and aggressive form of brain cancer.

"This licensing agreement further enhances our intellectual property estate of more than 40 patents and patent applications relating to active immunotherapy and monoclonal antibodies," said Manish Singh, Ph.D., president and CEO of ImmunoCellular Therapeutics. "IL-13Ra2 is one of the clinically validated targets for ICT-107, which we look forward to further investigating in a multicenter Phase II study in glioblastoma planned for later this year. Acquisition of these licensed rights is a major step for us in establishing our rights to commercialize this product candidate."

Sil Lutkewitte, President of Targepeutics, shares Dr. Singh's enthusiasm. "We have been working towards targeting the IL-13Ra2 receptor in the clinic for some time and this validation based on phase I data seen so far has given us hope for advances in brain cancer treatment that have not been seen in the past."

SOURCE ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.