Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals Expands Oncology Collaboration With Elan; HERZYME(TM) to be Combined With Elan's Liposomal Drug Delivery Technology
BOULDER, Colo., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals Inc. (RPI) (Nasdaq: RZYM - news) today announced that it has expanded its strategic collaboration with Elan Corporation plc and its subsidiaries (``Elan'') Medizyme Pharmaceuticals. Under the terms of the amended agreement, the business venture will license Elan's liposome technology for the development and potential commercialization of RPI's ribozyme against the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (HER2), HERZYME(TM). HERZYME is being developed for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer as well as a broad spectrum of solid tumors. HERZYME is currently in Phase I clinical trials at the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Canada, as part of the ongoing Medizyme business venture. In this study a saline solution of HERZYME is being delivered sub-cutaneously using Elan's Medipad® device.
"This is an expansion of our original collaboration with Elan, a world leader in drug delivery technologies," said Howard W. Robin, President and CEO at RPI. "We have enjoyed working closely with Elan on our Medizyme business venture for the development of HERZYME. Now, as we grow our oncology franchise to develop this second generation liposomal form of the compound, we are pleased to expand our relationship with Elan."
Larry Sternson, Ph.D., President of Elan's drug delivery stated that, "use of Elan's liposomal technology will allow the venture to develop next generation formulations of HERZYME. Liposomal forms will enable more effective targeting of tumor vasculature thereby enhancing the efficiency of intracellular delivery. Such forms will also open up the possibility of new routes of administration. We look forward to building on our existing relationship with RPI."
HER2 is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the prototypic member of the EGFR family of transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors. These receptors are involved in the intricate pathways of intracellular signaling that lead to cell proliferation and contribute to several other processes necessary for cancer progression. Elevated HER2 expression has been observed in breast, ovarian and other tumor types. In several cancers, HER2 over-expression is associated with metastasis or poorer prognosis. |
