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Biotech / Medical : progenics -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: keokalani'nui who wrote (61)	2/26/2002 10:45:55 AM
From: keokalani'nui	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 139

Progenics Selects Clinical Candidate for HIV Therapy: Humanized PRO 140 Antibody Blocks Viral Entry - Novel small-molecule inhibitors of CCR5-mediated HIV entry are also identified - SEATTLE, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PGNX - news) has selected a humanized form of its PRO 140 antibody for clinical testing as a promising new HIV therapy. PRO 140 works by a novel mechanism not exploited by any of the currently approved HIV agents: it blocks CCR5, a receptor on the cell surface that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) utilizes to enter and infect cells. Unlike its mouse-based predecessor, humanized PRO 140 is designed to be suitable for repeat dosing in humans. Humanization of the PRO 140 monoclonal antibody was accomplished under a collaborative agreement with Protein Design Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: PDLI - news), Fremont, CA. Progenics also reported the identification of small-molecule CCR5 inhibitors with novel antiviral properties, which were identified in collaboration with the Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, using Progenics' proprietary approach to identifying CCR5 inhibitors. Both sets of findings were presented today at the 9th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Seattle. (Logo: newscom.com ) ``In the laboratory, humanized PRO 140 has demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against diverse HIV isolates,'' said William C. Olson, Ph.D., Vice President, Research & Development at Progenics and coauthor of the presentation. ``In side-by-side testing, humanized PRO 140 reproduced the compelling antiviral profile of the original mouse antibody, but in a form suitable for chronic administration. PRO140 may play an important role in HIV therapy, especially in patients who are resistant to current anti-retrovirals and in need of new therapeutic options. We look forward to rapidly advancing this innovative product into clinical testing next year.'' Humanized PRO 140 is designed to be non-immunogenic and thus may be suitable for long-term therapy of HIV-infected individuals. Progenics presented results that the new humanized PRO 140 antibody is capable of blocking replication of multiple strains of HIV in laboratory assays. In a mouse model of HIV infection, Progenics had previously reported that mouse PRO 140 was highly effective in controlling HIV replication, with viral levels reduced to undetectable levels in all animals treated. CCR5 is a human protein that resides on the surface of certain immune system cells. CCR5 normally acts as a receptor for chemokines, which are molecules involved in inflammation. However, CCR5 also serves as a portal of entry for HIV into immune cells that also express CD4, which mediates the initial attachment of the virus to the cell. Certain individuals who do not express a functional CCR5 protein are highly resistant to infection with HIV, and provide clinical proof-of-concept for CCR5 inhibitors. PRO 140 is a monoclonal antibody that binds to a portion of the CCR5 receptor and blocks HIV entry while having no apparent effect on the normal function of CCR5.