NEWS & COMMENTS

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Medarex (MEDX): This firm’s UltiMAb® technology, which creates human monoclonal antibody therapeutics, is gaining more confidence from public and target discovery companies as to develop silver bullets against their discovered targets. The number of clients is increasing and the firm’s pipeline of co-developed products  is expanding with more and more targeted drugs. The pipeline’s wealth exceeded all expectations with products in various phases of trials.(Read prohost past N-letters).

In today’s news, Medarex and Euroscreen s.a. announced the completion of a license and research agreement for the exclusive worldwide development and commercialization of antibody-based products against certain targets for various diseases, including inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Medarex intends to use its UltiMAb® technology to create antibodies to the targets provided by Euroscreen.

ZymoGenetics (ZGEN) and Serono (SRA) announced favorable results from a Phase 1b clinical trial with TACI-Ig in 73 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The results were presented at the 7th Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR).

TACI-Ig is a soluble fusion protein developed for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and B-cell malignancies. The drug binds to BLyS and APRIL, TNF family cytokines that promote B-cell survival and the production of harmful autoantibodies implicated in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythemmatoses.

The results have demonstrated that TACI-Ig appeared to be well tolerated across the full range of dose levels and schedules tested. Clear biologic effect was observed as patients showed dose dependent decreases in the levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) and serum rheumatoid factor levels. The study was not specifically designed to evaluate efficacy, but encouraging trends could not be overlooked as they were observed in ACR and DAS 28 scores, commonly used measurements of clinical benefit. Based on these promising results, ZymoGenetics and Serono expect to begin the Phase 2 clinical program of TACI-Ig in patients with RA in the second half of 2006.

READ MORE: ZymoGenetics and Serono Present Positive Results of TACI-Ig Phase 1b Trial in Rheumatoid Arthritis at EULAR Meeting

DIABETES FROM A TO Z

      Diabetes is a disease that could transform into several intractable life-threatening diseases if not controlled. In the past decade many discoveries have been made that shed light on the genetic origin and pathways of this metabolic disease and many new products have reached or are reaching the market thanks to the joint efforts by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, in addition to research institutions and universities.

       Prohost N-Letter is tackling diabetes from irts genetic and non-genetic root-causes to its pathways, new treatments and preventive treatments of the disease and of its complications. Subscribers will find the whole topic on the next Prohost N-Letter that will be soon. Posted on this Website.  

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