More significant NERX news:
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 13, 1999--NeoRx Corporation
(Nasdaq:NERX.O) today announced that its scientists have successfully
produced in bacteria a "fusion protein" intended for use in the
Company's Pretarget Lymphoma product. The fusion protein comprises the
binding portion of an anti-CD20 antibody genetically linked to
streptavidin. The fusion protein is secreted at high concentration and
spontaneously forms a tetramer with four binding sites for antigen and
four binding sites for biotin, the ligand for streptavidin. The work
was described by Dr. Yukang Lin, Ph.D. of NeoRx's Molecular Biology
Group, at the Antibody Engineering Conference in San Diego.
"The fusion protein is intended to replace the CD20/streptavidin
chemical conjugate that we evaluated earlier this year in a Phase I
safety study in patients with non-Hodgkins' lymphoma," said Karen
Auditore-Hargreaves, Ph.D., NeoRx's Vice President of Research and
Development. "The new construct not only provides a cost-effective,
simplified process for production, but in animal models it also has
shown superior targeting and pharmacokinetic characteristics to the
chemical conjugate. Pretarget technology itself provides about a
5-fold improvement relative to conventional radioimmunotherapy in the
tumor-to-blood ratio, a commonly used measure of targeting
specificity. When chemical conjugate is replaced with fusion protein,
we see a further 5-fold improvement, suggesting that ultimately we
will be able to deliver safely previously unachievable doses of
radiation to the patient."
Pretarget technology involves decoupling of the targeting
molecule from administration of the cytotoxic effector agent. Because
the cytotoxic agent is a small radioactive molecule, it clears rapidly
from the blood, reducing exposure of non-tumor tissues. This is in
contrast to conventional radioimmunotherapy in which the targeting
molecule and the radiation are administered as a single large complex
that circulates for along time, all the while exposing non-tumor
tissue to its cytotoxic effects.
Pretarget technology has resulted in objective tumor responses,
including complete responses in a Phase I trial in patients with
lymphoma. NeoRx holds an exclusive license to patents covering fusion
proteins with streptavidin for use in pretargeting. The Company plans
to evaluate a fusion protein in clinical trials in the future.
NeoRx Corporation is developing innovative products designed to
provide improved, cost-effective treatments for patients with cancer.
This release contains forward-looking statements relating to the
development of the company's products and future operating results
that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those projected. The words
"believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," variations of such words,
and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their
absence does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to
certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to
predict. Factors that could affect the company's actual result include
the progress and costs of clinical trials and the timing of regulatory
approvals. Reference is made to the company's latest Annual Report on
Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more
detailed description of such factors. Readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak
only as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect
new information, events or circumstances after the date of this
release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Visit NeoRx at www.neorx.com.
To receive NeoRx news releases via email, register at
www.neorx.com/news/pr.html.
NeoRx and Pretarget are registered trademarks of NeoRx
Corporation in the United States and/or foreign countries.
(c) 1999 NeoRx Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
--30--ALW/se*
CONTACT: NeoRx Corporation
Melinda Kile, 206/286-2508
Controller
neorx.com
|
