Avant Immunotherapeutics Receives Key Patent for Its Cholesterol Management
Vaccine, CETi-1
Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers
BIOWIRE2K
NEEDHAM, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--June 25, 2002--AVANT
Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVAN) announced today that the
United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. patent
6,410,022 to the company covering AVANT's novel vaccine for
cholesterol management, CETi-1. The CETi-1 vaccine induces antibodies
against a portion of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), a
serum protein responsible for cholesterol transfer from high-density
lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
(LDL). In doing so, the vaccine blocks the ability of CETP to shuttle
cholesterol from HDL to LDL, thus potentially causing blood serum
levels of the heart-protective HDL cholesterol to rise.
This newly issued U.S. patent is the key patent that underlies the
CETi-1 product candidate presently under study in a Phase II clinical
trial, and it underpins AVANT's broad intellectual property coverage
of vaccine approaches to inhibiting CETP. AVANT's expanded CETP
vaccine patent portfolio now also includes foreign patents, patents on
alternative vaccine compositions including nucleic acid- and
protein-based vaccines, and additional patent applications acquired
from The Immune Response Corporation (Nasdaq: IMNR).
"Atherosclerosis is the biggest killer in the western world," said
Una S. Ryan, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of AVANT,
"In the $18 billion global cholesterol drug market, low HDL
cholesterol is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis and
represents a vast unmet medical need. This patent strengthens our
extensive intellectual property and leadership position in
atherosclerosis vaccines."
The principle of the CETi-1 approach is to harness an individual's
own immune system by periodic vaccinations to control the activity of
an important cholesterol transport mechanism and to thereby improve
HDL levels. Elevated HDL or `good' cholesterol acts to protect against
atherosclerosis, while elevated LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or `bad'
cholesterol acts to promote atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is an
underlying cause of heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral vascular
disease, and the cause of over 50% of the deaths in the western world.
AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. is engaged in the discovery,
development and commercialization of products that harness the human
immune system to prevent and treat disease. The company is developing
a broad portfolio of vaccines against viral and bacterial diseases,
including single-dose oral vaccines aimed at protecting travelers from
cholera, typhoid fever and other illnesses. In addition, the company
is conducting clinical studies of a proprietary vaccine candidate for
cholesterol management. AVANT further leverages the value of its
technology portfolio through corporate partnerships. Current
collaborations encompass the development of an oral human rotavirus
vaccine, vaccines to combat threats of biological warfare, and
vaccines addressed to human food safety and animal health.
Additional information on AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. can be
obtained through our site on the World Wide Web:
avantimmune.com.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995: This release includes forward-looking statements
which reflect AVANT's current views with respect to future events and
financial performance. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate,"
and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Investors
should not rely on forward-looking statements because they are subject
to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any
such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not
limited to: (1) the ability to successfully complete development and
commercialization of CETi-1 and of other products; (2) the cost,
timing, scope and results of ongoing safety and efficacy trials of
CETi-1 and other preclinical and clinical testing; (3) the ability to
successfully complete product research and further development,
including animal, pre-clinical and clinical studies of CETi-1 and
other products; (4) the ability of the Company to manage multiple late
stage clinical trials for a variety of product candidates; (5) the
volume and profitability of product sales of Megan(R)Vac 1 and other
future products; (6) changes in existing and potential relationships
with corporate collaborators; (7) the cost, delivery and quality of
clinical and commercial grade materials supplied by contract
manufacturers (8) the timing, cost and uncertainty of obtaining
regulatory approvals to use CETi-1, among other purposes, to raise
serum HDL cholesterol levels and for other products; (9) the ability
to obtain substantial additional funding; (10) the ability to develop
and commercialize products before competitors; (11) the integration of
Megan Health's business and programs; (12) the ability to retain
certain members of management; and (13) other factors detailed from
time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
--30--mp/bos*
CONTACT: AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.
Una S. Ryan, Ph.D., (781) 433-0771
OR
Avery W. Catlin, (781) 433-0771
info@avantimmune.com
OR
For Media:
Kureczka/Martin Associates
Ellen Martin, (510) 832-2044
jkureczka@aol.com
KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BIOTECHNOLOGY PHARMACEUTICAL
SOURCE: AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.
Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet
with Hyperlinks to your home page.
URL: businesswire.com
Jun-25-2002 13:48 GMT
Symbols:
US;AVAN
Source BW Business Wire
Categories:
MST/R/US/MA MST/I/BTC MST/I/DRG |
