Published: March 10, 2010
Human Genome Sciences and BioInvent Announce Collaboration to Co-Develop and Commercialize Therapeutic Antibodies
ROCKVILLE, Md. & LUND, Sweden - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) and BioInvent International
AB (OMXS: BINV) today announced that they have entered into a
collaboration to discover, develop and commercialize therapeutic
monoclonal antibodies that specifically target antigens discovered by
HGS.
Under the terms of the agreement, BioInvent will apply its state-of-the
art antibody discovery technology to generate and develop monoclonal
antibody candidates. The collaboration will initially focus on the
development of antibodies in the field of inflammation. HGS and
BioInvent will each have the right to participate in development and
global commercialization of each antibody candidate, and will share
research, development, manufacturing and commercialization costs as well
as future revenues. Specific terms were not disclosed.
"We continue to make excellent progress in advancing our late-stage
products toward commercialization, and at the same time we remain
committed to building and advancing our research pipeline to ensure
sustainable growth well into the future," said H. Thomas Watkins,
President and Chief Executive Officer, HGS. "We look forward to
collaborating with BioInvent to apply their proprietary technology to
the development of targeted new therapies based on HGS discoveries."
Svein Mathisen, Chief Executive Officer of BioInvent, said, "Access
to commercially attractive targets to which we can apply our antibody
discovery engine is an important part of BioInvent's strategy. We
believe this collaborative agreement is a strong and valuable way of
building our pipeline of innovative drugs as BioInvent and HGS's
research strengths are both complementary and synergistic. We are
looking forward to working closely with HGS in what we believe will be a
long-term, productive collaboration."
About the BioInvent Proprietary Antibody Discovery Platform
BioInvent's proprietary antibody discovery platform, n-CoDeR,
contains over 20 billion (2 x1010) human antibody genes, a
far greater number than those naturally available in the human immune
system. This provides a greater likelihood of finding antibodies with
both high affinity and specificity against a particular target.
BioInvent has a broad and innovative portfolio of therapeutic
antibodies, with four products currently in clinical development in the
fields of thrombosis, atherosclerosis and cancer.
About the HGS New Targets Initiative
HGS has a rich heritage of scientific discovery that has produced a
large intellectual property estate and a library of thousands of
therapeutic and diagnostic targets. HGS has conducted a careful review
and selected a number of targets for further research and potential
development. HGS plans to develop the selected targets through its own
internal research, as well as through research collaborations, including
the agreement with BioInvent announced today.
About BioInvent
BioInvent International AB, listed on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm (BINV),
is a research-based pharmaceutical company that focuses on developing
antibody drugs. BioInvent currently has four clinical development
projects within the areas of thrombosis, cancer and atherosclerosis.
BioInvent has signed various strategic alliances around these product
candidates and is developing them in collaboration with partners
including Genentech, Roche and ThromboGenics.
These projects are based around a competitive and in substance patented
antibody development platform. The scope and strength of this platform
is also utilized by partners, such as ALK-Abelló, Bayer HealthCare,
Daiichi Sankyo, ImmunoGen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, OrbusNeich, UCB and XOMA.
More information is available at www.bioinvent.com.
About Human Genome Sciences
The mission of HGS is to apply great science and great medicine to bring
innovative drugs to patients with unmet medical needs. The HGS clinical
development pipeline includes novel drugs to treat lupus, hepatitis C,
inhalation anthrax and cancer.
HGS's primary focus is rapid progress toward the commercialization of
its two lead drugs, BENLYSTA (belimumab) for systemic lupus and ZALBIN
(albinterferon alfa-2b) for hepatitis C. Phase 3 development has been
completed successfully for both BENLYSTA and ZALBIN. The submission of
marketing applications for BENLYSTA is planned in the U.S., Europe and
other regions in the second quarter of 2010. A BLA has been submitted
for ZALBIN to the FDA in the United States, and an MAA has been
submitted under the brand name JOULFERON to the EMEA in Europe.
In April 2009, HGS completed the delivery of 20,000 doses of raxibacumab
to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile for use in the event of an
emergency to treat inhalation anthrax. In July 2009, HGS secured a new
purchase order for 45,000 doses, and delivered the first 5,600 doses to
the Stockpile under the new order in November 2009.
HGS also has several drugs in earlier stages of development for
treatment of cancer, led by the TRAIL receptor antibody mapatumumab and
a small-molecule antagonist of inhibitor-of-apoptosis proteins. In
addition, HGS has substantial financial rights to certain products in
the GSK clinical pipeline including darapladib, in Phase 3 development
in patients with coronary heart disease, and Syncria (albiglutide), in
Phase 3 development in patients with type 2 diabetes.
For more information about HGS, please visit the Company's web site at www.hgsi.com.
Health professionals and patients interested in clinical trials of HGS
products may inquire via e-mail to medinfo@hgsi.com
or by calling HGS at (877) 822-8472.
HGS, Human Genome Sciences, BENLYSTA, and ZALBIN are trademarks of Human
Genome Sciences, Inc. Other trademarks referenced are the property of
their respective owners.
HGS Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The
forward-looking statements are based on Human Genome Sciences' current
intent, belief and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of
future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties
that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from
these forward-looking statements because of Human Genome Sciences'
unproven business model, its dependence on new technologies, the
uncertainty and timing of clinical trials, Human Genome Sciences'
ability to develop and commercialize products, its dependence on
collaborators for services and revenue, its substantial indebtedness and
lease obligations, its changing requirements and costs associated with
facilities, intense competition, the uncertainty of patent and
intellectual property protection, Human Genome Sciences' dependence on
key management and key suppliers, the uncertainty of regulation of
products, the impact of future alliances or transactions and other risks
described in the Company's filings with the SEC. Existing and
prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today's date. Human
Genome Sciences undertakes no obligation to update or revise the
information contained in this announcement whether as a result of new
information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

HGS CONTACTS:
Media
Jerry
Parrott, 301-315-2777
Vice President, Corporate Communications
or
Investors
Peter
Vozzo, 301-251-6003
Senior Director, Investor Relations
or
BIOINVENT
CONTACTS:
BioInvent
International AB
Svein Mathisen, +46 (0)46-286 85 67
President
& CEO
Mobile: +46 (0)708-97 82 13
svein.mathisen@bioinvent.com
or
Cristina
Glad, +46 (0)46-286 85 51
Executive Vice President
Mobile: +46
(0)708-16 85 70
cristina.glad@bioinvent.com
or
Media
enquiries:
College Hill Life Sciences
Katja
Toon, Justine Lamond,
Benjamyn Tan
+44 (0)20 7866 7857
bioinvent@collegehill.com
or
Erik
Clausen (U.S.), +1-415-230-5385
erik.clausen@collegehill.com
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