BioLineRx completes pre-clinical development of BL-8020 for HCV

BioLineRx (NASDAQ: BLRX) (TASE: BLRX), a biopharmaceutical development company, announced today that it has successfully completed the pre-clinical development of BL-8020, an orally available, interferon-free treatment for the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and plans to commence a Phase I/II safety and efficacy study for BL-8020 in Europe during the first quarter of 2013.

Since in-licensing BL-8020 in January 2012, BioLineRx has successfully completed a number of pre-clinical studies with the therapy. The data package is now ready for the regulatory submissions required to begin the clinical phase of development. BioLineRx is currently engaged in the regulatory submission process and expects to receive approval from the regulatory authorities by the end of this year.

BL-8020 is an orally available HCV treatment with a unique mechanism of action, as compared to other currently used anti-HCV agents, which suggests pan-genotypic efficacy and the ability to be combined with other HCV therapeutics as part of an interferon-free regimen. BL-8020's mechanism of action involves the inhibition of HCV-induced autophagy in the host cells. Autophagy is a mechanism by which cells degrade damaged or unnecessary cellular components, including invading viruses. However, HCV has found a way to take advantage of this mechanism in order to replicate inside the cell. By inhibiting this mechanism, BL-8020 reduces the ability of HCV to replicate.

BL-8020's safety and efficacy have been demonstrated in a number of studies. These studies have shown that BL-8020 has a synergistic effect with other anti-HCV agents. This effect on other therapies is likely to increase their potency and reduce the numerous adverse effects often associated with these drugs by enabling utilization of lower dosages. In addition BL-8020 may reduce therapy duration. The use of multiple therapies with different mechanisms is also likely to be beneficial for patients who have developed resistance or do not respond to current treatments and is a common practice in current HCV treatment regimens.

BL-8020 was licensed under a worldwide, exclusive agreement from Genoscience, a French company focused on viral disease therapeutics. It was developed as an anti-viral therapy by Professor Philippe Halfon, Co-Founder and President of Genoscience and a world renowned scientist for his work on HIV (AIDS virus), HPV (human papilloma virus causing cervical cancer) and Hepatitis. In addition, Prof. Halfon is the founder of several biotechnology companies focusing on antiviral drug discovery and development, including ACTgene, Alphabio and Genoscience.

"We are excited that this project has successfully completed the pre-clinical stage," stated Dr. Kinneret Savitsky, CEO of BioLineRx. "The unique characteristics of BL-8020 make it attractive as an adjunct therapy to other oral cocktail therapies, therefore not directly competing in the crowded HCV market of currently approved therapies or those under development. Recent toxicity issues seen with NS5B inhibitors stress the need for additional targets and approaches in HCV treatment. We look forward to entering the clinic with this promising drug at the beginning of next year," Dr. Savitsky added.

"I am very pleased with BioLineRx's accelerated development program for BL-8020," said Prof. Philippe Halfon, Co-Founder and President of Genoscience. "According to the World Health Organization, approximately 3% of the world's population is infected with the Hepatitis C virus. Most infected people develop a chronic infection, making HCV the leading cause for liver transplants in the US. While there have been some recent advancements in the global HCV therapeutics pipeline, there is still a clear need for safe, pan-genotypic therapies, as well as treatments for mutations which may develop resistance to current and future therapies, and for partial and non-responders. Based on the pre-clinical results of BL-8020, its unique mechanism of action and synergistic effect, I believe that this product, especially when combined with other available Hepatitis C drugs, has real potential to meet these future market needs."