AVANT Immunotherapeutics Receives Additional Key Patent for Its Cholesterol Management Vaccine, CETi-1
Tuesday April 29, 2:08 pm ET
NEEDHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 29, 2003--AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVAN - News) announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. patent 6,555,113 to the company broadening patent coverage on the use of AVANT's novel CETP vaccine technology for cholesterol management. AVANT's investigational vaccine, CETi-1, is designed to elicit antibodies that bind and inhibit the activity of CETP, blocking the ability of that protein to transfer cholesterol from HDL to LDL and thus causing HDL cholesterol levels to rise. A Phase II trial of the CETi-1vaccine, evaluating the effect of that experimental treatment on HDL levels in patients with low initial HDL cholesterol, is nearing completion, with results expected in the fourth quarter of this year.
This newly issued U.S. patent is an additional key patent that underlies the CETi-1 product candidate presently under study, and it underpins AVANT's broad intellectual property coverage of vaccine approaches to inhibiting CETP. AVANT's expanded CETP vaccine patent portfolio now also includes foreign patents, patents on alternative vaccine compositions including nucleic acid- and protein-based vaccines, and additional patents and patent applications acquired from Pharmacia Corporation and The Immune Response Corporation.
"This patent is significant because it broadens the scope of AVANT's coverage in this area and it includes claims to methods for elevating HDL and decreasing CETP activity," said Una S. Ryan, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of AVANT. "We believe that this patent, coupled with our portfolio of granted and pending patents, bolters AVANT's leadership position covering the technology of anti-atherosclerosis vaccines."
AVANT's first cholesterol management agent, CETi-1, is designed to raise serum HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels by blocking the transfer of cholesterol from HDL to LDL (low-density lipoprotein). The principle of the CETi-1 approach is to harness an individual's own immune system by periodic vaccinations to control the activity of CETP, which transfers cholesterol from HDL to LDL, and to thereby improve HDL levels. Elevated HDL or "good cholesterol" acts to protect against atherosclerosis, while elevated LDL or "bad cholesterol" acts to promote atherosclerosis.
AVANT Immunotherapeutics is engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of products that harness the human immune system to prevent and treat disease. The company is developing a broad portfolio of vaccines addressing a wide range of applications including bacterial and viral diseases, chronic human disease, biodefense and food safety. These include single-dose, oral vaccines that protect against important disease-causing agents and a novel, proprietary vaccine candidate for cholesterol management. AVANT's goal is to demonstrate proof-of-concept for its products before leveraging their value through partnerships. Current collaborations encompass the development of an oral human rotavirus vaccine, vaccines to combat threats of biological warfare and vaccines addressed to human food safety and animal health.
Additional information on AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. can be obtained through our site on the World Wide Web: avantimmune.com.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release includes forward-looking statements which reflect AVANT's current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and information currently available. The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "project" and similar expressions which do not relate solely to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. Investors should be cautious in relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the integration of the UPT technology and programs; (2) the bility to adapt AVANT's vectoring systems to develop new, safe and effective orally administered vaccines against anthrax and plague or any other microbes used as bioweapons; (3) the ability to successfully complete development and commercialization of CETi-1 and of other products; (4) the cost, timing, scope and results of ongoing safety and efficacy trials of CETi-1 and other preclinical and clinical testing; (5) the ability to successfully complete product research and further development, including animal, pre-clinical and clinical studies of CETi-1 and other products; (6) the ability of the Company to manage multiple late stage clinical trials for a variety of product candidates; (7) the volume and profitability of product sales of Megan®Vac 1 and other future products; (8) changes in existing and potential relationships with corporate collaborators; (9) the cost, delivery and quality of clinical and commercial grade materials supplied by contract manufacturers (10) the timing, cost and uncertainty of obtaining regulatory approvals to use CETi-1, among other purposes, to raise serum HDL cholesterol levels and for other products; (11) the ability to obtain substantial additional funding; (12) the ability to develop and commercialize products before competitors; (13) the ability to retain certain members of management; and (14) other factors detailed from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to update forward-looking statements.
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Contact:
AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.
Una S. Ryan, Ph.D., 781/433-0771
or
AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.
Avery W. Catlin, 781/433-0771
info@avantimmune.com
or
For Media:
Kureczka/Martin Associates
Joan Kureczka, 415/821-2413
jkureczka@aol.com
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Source: AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. |
