EANS-News: Lonza and Agennix Sign Development and Manufacturing Deal for Production of Talactoferrin
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contracts Subtitle: Contract covers the commercial production of talactoferrin, an oral Dendritic Cell Mediated Immunotherapy (DCMI) under investigation for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Lonza will manufacture talactoferrin at its microbial facility in Kourim, Czech Republic Basel (Switzerland), Planegg/Munich (Germany), Princeton, NJ and Houston, TX, April 12, 2012 (euro adhoc) - Lonza and Agennix AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: AGX) announced today an agreement for the production of Agennix´s first-in-class oral Dendritic Cell Mediated Immunotherapy (DCMI), talactoferrin, currently in Phase III testing for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Under the agreement, Lonza will produce commercial material at its microbial manufacturing facility in Kourim, Czech Republic. This agreement initiates the process needed to be able to ultimately seek approval for Lonza as a second manufacturer of talactoferrin after the initial commercial launch. "We are committed to supporting emerging therapeutics through clinical trial milestones," said Dr. Stephan Kutzer, COO Lonza Custom Manufacturing. "Our partnership with Agennix is an example of this commitment and demonstrates Lonza´s ability to offer access to our development and manufacturing expertise at an early stage of production." Rajesh Malik, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Management Board member of Agennix, said: "We are pleased to enter this agreement with Lonza, which has extensive experience manufacturing biologics on a commercial scale. In anticipation of positive Phase III data and a potential product approval, it is important that we have more than one manufacturer in place to ensure we can meet anticipated commercial demand and that we have security of supply." About Talactoferrin Talactoferrin is a first-in-class oral Dendritic Cell Mediated Immunotherapy (DCMI) currently being studied for the treatment of NSCLC. In randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II studies in NSCLC, talactoferrin appeared to improve survival across a broad range of patients, including the difficult-to-treat refractory population, without many of the common toxicities seen with other cancer therapies. Two Phase III trials with talactoferrin in NSCLC are ongoing. The FORTIS-M trial, which completed enrollment in March 2011, is evaluating talactoferrin in NSCLC patients whose disease has progressed following two or more prior treatment regimens. A second Phase III trial - FORTIS-C - is evaluating talactoferrin in combination with the standard chemotherapy regimen, carboplatin/paclitaxel, in first-line NSCLC patients. NSCLC is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide and the most frequent cause of cancer death. About Agennix Agennix AG is a publicly listed biopharmaceutical company that is focused on the development of novel therapies that have the potential to substantially improve the length and quality of life of critically ill patients in areas of major unmet medical need. The Company´s most advanced program is talactoferrin, a first-in class oral Dendritic Cell Mediated Immunotherapy (DCMI). Talactoferrin is currently in Phase III clinical trials in non-small cell lung cancer. Other clinical development programs include RGB-286638, a multi-targeted kinase inhibitor in Phase I testing for cancer, and a topical gel form of talactoferrin for diabetic foot ulcers. Agennix´s registered seat is in Heidelberg, Germany. The Company has three sites of operation: Planegg/Munich, Germany; Princeton, New Jersey and Houston, Texas. For additional information, please visit the Agennix Web site at www.agennix.com. About Lonza Lonza is one of the world's leading suppliers to the pharmaceutical, healthcare and life science industries. Products and services span its customers´ needs from research to final product manufacture. It is the global leader in the production and support of active pharmaceutical ingredients both chemically as well as biotechnologically. Biopharmaceuticals are one of the key growth drivers of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Lonza has strong capabilities in large and small molecules, peptides, amino acids and niche bioproducts which play an important role in the development of novel medicines and healthcare products. Lonza is also the world leader in microbial control providing innovative, chemistry-based and related solutions to destroy or to selectively inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms. Its activities encompass the areas of water treatment, personal care, health and hygiene, industrial preservation, materials protection, and wood treatment. In addition, Lonza is a leader in cell-based research, endotoxin detection and cell therapy manufacturing. Furthermore, the company is a leading provider of value chemical and biotech ingredients to the nutrition and agro markets. Lonza is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and secondary listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited ("SGX-ST"). Lonza is not subject to the SGX-ST´s continuing listing requirements. Lonza is subject to the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange, which do not have specific requirements equivalent to the listing rules of the SGX-ST in respect of interested person transactions, acquisition and realizations, and delisting. In 2011, the company had sales of CHF 2.69 billion. Further information can be found at www.lonza.com. Safe Harbor Statement for Agennix: This press release contains forward-looking statements, which express the current beliefs and expectations of the management of Agennix AG. Such statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially depending on a number of factors, and we caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The achievement of positive results in early stage clinical studies does not ensure that later stage or large scale clinical studies will be successful. Even if the results from our later stage trials with talactoferrin, including the ongoing FORTIS-M trial in non-small cell lung cancer, are considered positive, there can be no guarantee that they will be sufficient to gain marketing approval in the United States or any other country, and regulatory authorities may require additional information, data and/or further pre-clinical or clinical studies to support approval. In such event, there can be no guarantee that the Company will have or be able to obtain the financial resources to conduct any such additional studies or that such studies will yield results sufficient for approval. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Agennix undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Agennix is a trademark of the Agennix group. Further inquiry note: Lonza Group Ltd Head of Corporate Communications Dominik Werner Tel +41 61 316 8798 Fax +41 61 316 9798 dominik.werner@lonza.com Lonza Group Ltd Investor Relations Dirk Oehlers Tel +41 61 316 8540 Fax +41 61 316 9540 dirk.oehlers@lonza.com Lonza Group Ltd Media Relations Melanie Disa Tel +1 201 316 9413 Fax +1 201 696 3533 melanie.disa@lonza.com Agennix AG: Barbara Mueller Manager, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Phone: +49 (0)89 8565 2693 ir@agennix.com In the U.S.: Laurie Doyle Senior Director, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Phone: +1 609 524 5884 laurie.doyle@agennix.com Additional media contact - Europe: MC Services AG Raimund Gabriel Phone: +49 (0) 89 210 228 0 raimund.gabriel@mc-services.eu Additional investor contact - Europe: Trout International LLC Lauren Williams, Senior Vice President Phone: +44 207 936 9325 lwilliams@troutgroup.com end of announcement euro adhoc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- company: AGENNIX AG Im Neuenheimer Feld 515 D-69120 Heidelberg phone: +49 89 8565 2693 FAX: +49 89 8565 2610 mail: ir@agennix.com WWW: http://www.agennix.com sector: Pharmaceuticals ISIN: DE000A1A6XX4 indexes: CDAX, Prime All Share, Technology All Share stockmarkets: free trade: Hannover, Berlin, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt language: English
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