Aphton and XOMA Form Therapeutic Antibody Collaboration for Treating Gastrointestinal Cancers
MIAMI & BERKELEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 23, 2004--
Agreement Leverages Companies' Strengths in Anti-Gastrin Immunotherapy and Monoclonal Antibody Development
Aphton Corporation (Nasdaq:APHT) and XOMA Ltd. (Nasdaq:XOMA) today announced they have signed a worldwide collaboration agreement for the treatment of gastrointestinal and other gastrin-sensitive cancers using anti-gastrin monoclonal antibodies.
Under the terms of the agreement, Aphton and XOMA will share all development expenses and all commercialization profits and losses for all product candidates on a 70/30 basis, respectively. XOMA will have worldwide manufacturing rights for these products and the ability to share up to 30% in the commercialization efforts in the U.S. in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Aphton will share commercialization rights in the U.S. and will have exclusive rights to commercialize all products outside the U.S.
One of the strategies to be utilized in the collaboration will be the application of XOMA's Human Engineering(TM) technology to monoclonal antibodies developed by Aphton.
"We are enthusiastic about initiating this collaboration with XOMA, one of the leaders in the field of monoclonal antibodies," Patrick Mooney, President and CEO of Aphton, said. "The collaboration combines the experience of Aphton in anti-gastrin cancer therapy with XOMA's technologies, experience and broad-based capabilities in developing and manufacturing monoclonal and other antibodies. We anticipate the antibody product will be complementary to Aphton's immunotherapeutic Insegia(TM) (G17DT), and represent an important extension of our portfolio."
"For patients with gastrointestinal cancers, therapeutic antibodies against gastrin have the potential to be an important medical advancement," said John L. Castello, XOMA's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to collaborating with Aphton and realizing the advantages of working with a pioneer in the field of anti-gastrin cancer therapy as we collectively pursue the development and commercialization of products in this area. In addition, this collaboration represents another partnering milestone for XOMA and provides us with a compelling addition to our product pipeline."
About Gastrin
The antibodies to be developed under the collaboration will bind and neutralize the hormones gastrin 17 and gly-gastrin 17 (a gastrin precursor) that are known to be involved in tumor progression in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.
Gastrin is a key hormone in the embryological development of the GI system. Post embryological development, most of the gastrin and gastrin receptor genes throughout the GI system are shut down. Gastrin genes are reactivated in precancerous cells and polyps and in cancer cells early in the development of cancer. Gastrin secretion and the expression of gastrin receptors increase as the cancer progresses. Gastrin works by signaling through its receptor, the gastrin receptor (CCK-2/Gastrin-R).
In normal adult tissue, gastrin is only produced in the antrum region of the stomach and its receptor is produced only on its target cells found in the normal stomach (Parietal and ECL cells). Normally, gastrin is secreted by cells in the stomach primarily after eating and is responsible for producing approximately 90% of the body's stomach acid.
In cancer cells, gastrin acts to signal growth and proliferation conferring a growth advantage on them. Gastrin expression and the appearance of gastrin receptors have been associated with increasing malignant characteristics of GI tumors and with poorer prognostic outcomes. Specifically, gastrin is known to be involved in the progression of colorectal, stomach, liver and pancreatic cancers.
It has been shown that inhibiting gastrin inhibits cell growth, proliferation and metastasis leading to programmed cell death (apoptosis). This tilts the balance from cell growth to cell suicide. Gastrin also stimulates the secretion and expression of other important growth factors and receptors within and on the surfaces of the cancer cells involved in tumor growth. Hence, inhibiting gastrin inhibits all of these factors that contribute to tumor growth and spread resulting in tumor cell death.
About XOMA's Antibody Capabilities and Oncology Presence
XOMA possesses a multi-technology platform and fully-integrated product development infrastructure for therapeutic antibody generation, optimization, production and development. Included in this platform are leading commercially available antibody phage display libraries and XOMA's proprietary Human Engineering(TM) technology for generating high quality, monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic use in humans. In addition, XOMA's substantial experience and broad-based capabilities in monoclonal antibody evaluation, production and development enable the rapid advancement of candidate molecules from preclinical stage to product launch.
In February 2004, XOMA entered into a comprehensive strategic alliance with Chiron Corporation for the development and commercialization of antibody products for the treatment of cancer. XOMA's collaboration with Aphton for therapeutic antibodies against gastrin is a permitted exception under the agreement with Chiron, which is exclusive between Chiron and XOMA in the field of antibody products for the treatment of cancer through February of 2007, extendable at Chiron's election through February of 2009.
About Aphton Corporation
Aphton Corporation is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer and other diseases. Aphton's products neutralize hormones involved in the growth and proliferation of cancers of the gastrointestinal system and reproductive system, as well as other diseases. Aphton has strategic alliances with Aventis Pasteur for treating gastrointestinal system and other cancers with Insegia in North America and Europe; GlaxoSmithKline for reproductive system cancer and non-cancer diseases worldwide; Daiichi Pure Chemicals for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of gastrin-related diagnostic kits; and others. |
