Lots of interest in Pigs these days:
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Alexion Pharmaceuticals
Xenotransplant Researchers Encouraged by Study
Published in Science Suggesting Safety of Pig Tissue
Transplants
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientists at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXN - news), a leading
company in the field of xenotransplantation, today expressed optimism at the results published in the journal Science by researchers
from Novartis Pharma AG, in collaboration with the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study revealed no
evidence of transmission of potentially infectious pig retroviruses to human subjects that had been exposed to pig cells up to twelve
years previously.
''The transplantation of porcine cells and organs represents a promising approach to alleviating the growing worldwide shortage of
organs and tissues for humans who could benefit from this form of therapy,'' stated Louis Matis, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer at
Alexion. ''Historically, the scientific and clinical enthusiasm has been tempered in some quarters by concerns regarding possible
transmission of the endogenous porcine retroviruses to human cells in test tube experiments. The current report provides the most
comprehensive clinical evidence to date that such transmission may be highly unlikely, suggesting that with the appropriate careful
monitoring, pigs may represent a safe source of donor tissue for patients. We are encouraged by the positive implication of these new
clinical safety results for our ongoing xenotransplantation program, which currently includes advanced preclinical studies in spinal cord
injury and Parkinson's Disease.''
Alexion Pharmaceuticals is engaged in a multifaceted program developing porcine tissues and organs for human xenotransplantation,
supported by a broad intellectual property portfolio. The company has pioneered a double-barreled approach to the problem of
complement-mediated rejection of xenografts, creating transgenic pigs that have been genetically altered both to express human
complement inhibitor proteins as well as to reduce the expression of certain sugar structures that can trigger complement-mediated
rejection.
Last November researchers at Alexion, together with collaborators from Harvard Medical School and Yale Medical School,
announced highly promising results using proprietary transgenic pig nerve cells to restore function in preclinical models of Parkinson's
Disease and spinal cord injury, respectively.
Alexion has been awarded three grants totaling $6 million in funding by the Advanced Technology Program, an initiative administered
by the National Institute of Standards and Technology of the Department of Commerce, all in support of the firm's
xenotransplantation program.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is engaged in the development of selective immunotherapeutic drugs that are generally designed to
inhibit the disease-causing segments of the immune system while preserving the disease-preventing aspects of the immune system.
The company is developing three technology platforms: C5 Complement Inhibitors and Apogen T-Cell Therapeutics, which together
target severe cardiovascular and autoimmune disorders; and xenografts for cell and organ transplantation.
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain factors which may cause Alexion's
plans to differ or results to vary from those expected including unexpected pre-clinical or clinical results, the ability to reproduce or
improve upon preclinical results or early clinical results in large scale clinical studies, the need for additional research and testing,
delays in manufacturing, access to capital and funding, delays and adverse changes in development of commercial relationships and a
variety of risks set forth from time to time in Alexion's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited
to the risks discussed in Alexion's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 1998. Alexion undertakes no obligation to
publicly release results of any of these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the
date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
SOURCE: Alexion Pharmaceuticals |
