Bennett and ALL you should find that this brightens your day:
IDEC Pharmaceuticals Receives Notice Of Allowance On Additional Patents Covering PRIMATIZED Antibody Technology
SAN DIEGO, May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Nasdaq:
IDPH) today announced that the company has received Notices of Allowance from
the United States Patent and Trademark Office on two patents for the company's
PRIMATIZED(R) antibody technology. One patent covers the DNA sequences involved
in the production of PRIMATIZED antibodies, while the other patent covers
methods of PRIMATIZED antibody production. These patents represent the
additional layers of patent protection for IDEC's PRIMATIZED antibody technology
and further expand on the U.S. PRIMATIZED antibody patent allowed in February of
1996.
"Allowance of these two additional patents further validates the uniqueness
and proprietary nature of IDEC's PRIMATIZED antibody technology and provides
additional protection for the PRIMATIZED antibody therapeutics in our product
pipeline," said Nabil Hanna, Ph.D., senior vice president, research and
preclinical development. IDEC's lead PRIMATIZED antibody, IDEC- CE9.1/SB210396
is being developed in collaboration with SmithKline Beecham. This product is
currently in Phase III testing for rheumatoid arthritis at over 34 medical
centers in the U.S., Europe and Canada. IDEC is also employing the PRIMATIZED
technology in its anti-B7, anti-CD23 and anti-gp39 antibody projects.
Dr. Hanna noted further that PRIMATIZED antibodies are to be distinguished
from "humanized" antibodies. PRIMATIZED antibody development is distinct from
humanized monoclonal antibody technology that is the subject of several recently
issued patents.
Genetically engineered from cynomolgus macaque monkey and human components,
PRIMATIZED antibodies are structurally indistinguishable from human antibodies.
Therefore, PRIMATIZED antibodies may be less likely to cause adverse reactions
in humans, making them potentially suited for long- term, chronic treatments.
IDEC Pharmaceuticals' press releases are available at no charge through PR
Newswire's "Company News On Call" fax service. For a menu of IDEC's current
press releases and quarterly reports or to retrieve a specific release, call
(800) 758-5804, ext. 432581. On the internet see prnewswire.com and
shareholdernews.com.
The statements made in this press release contain certain forward looking
statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or
results may differ from the company's expectations. In addition to the matters
described in this press release, timelines for clinical ongoing activity are
subject to change, results of pending or future clinical trials cannot be
accurately predicted and decisions by the FDA and other regulatory agencies, as
well as the risk factors listed from time to time in the company's SEC filings,
including but not limited to its Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1995, and form S-3 filed May 3, 1996, may affect the actual results
achieved by the company.
IDEC Pharmaceuticals and PRIMATIZED are registered U.S. trademarks of the
company. The company headquarters is located at 11011 Torreyana Road, San
Diego, CA 92121.
/CONTACT: Connie Matsui, Vice President, Planning & Resource Development of
IDEC, 619-550-8656/
12:57 EDT
6331 05/01/97 12:57 EDT HT
:TICKER: IDPH
:SUBJECT: BIOT CA
Copyright (c) 1997 PR Newswire
Received by NewsEDGE/LAN: 5/1/97 1:10 PM |
