Apeiron Acquires Rights To New Clinical Stage Project:

License for therapeutic enzyme for treatment of inflammatory conditions marks first step of project portfolio build-up

APEIRON Biologics AG (Apeiron) today announced that, as part of its effort to broaden its current project portfolio, it has concluded an agreement with Polymun Scientific GmbH (Polymun) granting Apeiron exclusive rights to recombinant human Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD). SOD, a naturally occurring enzyme with important, antioxidant properties, has so far been under development as a potential therapy for various inflammatory conditions and shown signs of efficacy in first clinical trials. Initially, Apeiron will focus on clinical development of a topical formulation of SOD for treatment of certain inflammatory skin conditions such as skin damage related to cancer radiation therapy. At the same time, Apeiron will explore systemic routes of administration.

Commenting on the agreement, Hans Loibner, CEO of Apeiron, stated: "It is a great project that incorporates Apeiron’s core expertise in development of protein therapeutics, especially therapeutic enzymes. Its clinical data shows promise in a variety of conditions associated with a lack of therapeutic options. We are therefore confident that SOD will contribute substantially to Apeiron’s value base.”
Hermann Katinger, founder and CEO of Polymun, added: “We are excited to partner SOD with Apeiron. I am convinced that their impressive set of capabilities and expertise will maximize our project’s therapeutic and commercial potential.”
No financial details are disclosed.

About SOD:
SOD is an essential endogenous, antioxidant enzyme that catalyzes the dismutation of superoxide and thus reduces damage to tissues. In the course of several clinical trials it has shown signs of therapeutic effects in certain inflammatory conditions, such as radiation-induced skin damage, arthritis, Crohn’s disease and Peyronie’s disease.

About Apeiron:
Apeiron is a privately financed Biotech company and develops biological drugs applying state-of-the-art technologies and novel approaches. Until recently, Apeiron has focused on the development of recombinant human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 until completion of Phase I and out-licensed its respective rights to GlaxoSmithKline in early 2010. Additional projects focus on potential treatments of cancer and pain. Currently, building on the existing set of innovative in-house projects, Apeiron is broadening its project portfolio by licensing-in further immunological/biological approaches to treat various cancers and other conditions.

About Polymun:
Polymun was founded in 1992 by Prof. Hermann Katinger. It is a private company fully owned by the Katinger family. Revenues are generated by contract development and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals and liposomal formulations. These revenues are invested in the proprietary product pipeline and the further development of technology platforms. The R&D projects and technologies are open for co-development and licensing.

Contact:
Hans Loibner, Ph.D.,
CEO
APEIRON Biologics AG
Campus Vienna Biocenter 5
1030 Vienna, Austria
Tel: +43 1 865 6577 100
hans.loibner@apeiron-biologics.com

Vienna, 4 November 2010

Apeiron is a privately financed Biotech company and develops biological drugs applying state-of-the-art technologies and novel approaches. Until recently, Apeiron has focused on the development of recombinant human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 until completion of Phase I and out-licensed its respective rights to GlaxoSmithKline in early 2010. Additional projects focus on potential treatments of cancer and pain. Currently, building on the existing set of innovative in-house projects, Apeiron is broadening its project portfolio by licensing-in further immunological/biological approaches to treat various cancers and other conditions.

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This release was published on openPR.