Another version of the IMNR news...
Immune Response, Agouron To Work Together On HIV Treatment
Dow Jones Online News, Monday, October 19, 1998 at 16:57
CARLSBAD, Calif. -(Dow Jones)- Immune Response Corp. said Monday
Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc. agreed to collaborate on the development
and sale of Remune, an experimental HIV treatment that aims to boost
patients' immune systems to fight the virus.
Immune Response, a biopharmaceutical company, said it may receive as
much as $77 million over the next two years, and the two companies will
share all Remune profits on a 50/50 basis.
Agouron is known for making Viracept, a protease inhibitor taken as
part of a so-called "drug cocktail." The drug combinations have been
cited with revolutionizing AIDS treatment because they can drive HIV in
the bloodstream down to nearly undetectable levels.
Remune is an experimental vaccine. It contains only proteins inside
the core of HIV, and not its outer envelope. Scientists think that with
virus levels reduced significantly by treatment with the combination
drug therapy, the immune system can create so-called helper cells once
it sees the HIV proteins contained in Remune.
Immune Response (IMNR) received an initial $3 million research and
development payment and $2 million for the purchase of 126,758
unregistered common shares. The shares were purchased at a premium, the
company said.
Immune Response said Agouron (AGPH) is expected to make a series of
quarterly research and development payments and to purchase unregistered
common shares.
Immune Response will manufacture Remune's commercial supply. Agouron
will have exclusive rights to market the treatment in North America,
Europe and other countries, after receipt of regulatory approvals.
Copyright (c) 1998 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. |
