Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Beteiligungsges. AG
EANS-News: DEWB Investment Holding NOXXON Announces Initiation of First Clinical Trial with a Spiegelmer®
Berlin/Jena, Germany, 8 June 2009 (euro adhoc) -
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NOXXON Pharma AG (NOXXON), an investment holding of Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG (DEWB), announced today the successful initial dosing of healthy volunteers with Spiegelmer® NOX-E36 in the company´s first-in-human clinical trial. The Phase I program is currently underway in the United Kingdom following review and approval of the Clinical Trial Application by the Medicines and Health product Regulatory Authority (MHRA). The study will evaluate the tolerability, safety and pharmacokinetics in up to 72 individuals following intravenous and subcutaneous administration of anti-inflammatory Spiegelmer® NOX-E36. The results obtained in the Phase I trial will guide the Phase II program to be conducted in patients suffering from nephropathy.
"With the initiation of this Phase I study, Spiegelmers® have reached the next level of maturity", commented Dr. Frank Morich, Chief Executive Officer of NOXXON. "This event marks NOXXON´s transition to a clinical-stage company and represents a major milestone in our continued effort to develop a pipeline of a novel and innovative class of pharmaceuticals to address major medical needs."
"With its innovative Spiegelmer® technology NOXXON is one of the most promising biotechnology companies", commented Bertram Köhler, Member of the Management Board of DEWB and deputy chairman of NOXXON´s supervisory board. "Entering the clinical trials and being first in man with a Spiegelmer® is a tremendous success in the company´s development and proofs the chosen strategy in 2006". Besides DEWB, which holds the largest share in NOXXON, the group of investors includes leading European venture capitalists in biotechnology - TVM Capital, Sofinnova Partners and Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners.
Spiegelmers® (L-aptamers) are chemical entities based on synthetic mirror-image oligonucleotides. Thanks to their unique mirror image configuration Spiegelmers® are not metabolized and do not hybridize with native DNA or RNA. Spiegelmers® also do not activate the innate immune response via Toll-like receptors and have shown an exceptionally favorable immunogenicity profile in pre-clinical testing.
NOXXON´s lead compound NOX-E36 is a new therapeutic modality that specifically targets the pro-inflammatory chemokine Monocyte Chemotactic Protein 1 (MCP-1, also known as CCL2). Previously completed experiments in various animal models of kidney disease demonstrate that treatment with Spiegelmer® MCP-1 antagonists significantly delays the decline in kidney function as well as disease progression. NOXXON is planning to develop NOX-E36 for the treatment of inflammatory kidney diseases including diabetic nephropathy. Diabetic nephropathy is a growing public health threat due to the high and continually growing incidence of type II diabetes. Approximately thirty percent of patients diagnosed with diabetes develop nephropathy; twenty percent of these patients suffer from end stage renal disease. Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause for chronic kideny disease and dialysis treatment in the Western world.
About NOXXON Pharma AG: Berlin-based NOXXON Pharma AG is a clinical stage biotechnology company focusing on the development of Spiegelmers® for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and hematological indications. In addition to its in-house programs NOXXON discovers and develops Spiegelmers® in collaboration with partners from the pharmaceutical industry, including Eli Lilly, Hoffmann La-Roche and Pfizer. Spiegelmers® (the German word "Spiegel" means mirror) are chemical entities based on synthetic L-nucleic acids. They are highly selective for their pharmacological target and potent inhibitors of target function. The substance class exhibits exceptional metabolic stability and an outstanding immunogenicity profile - a new generation of improved therapeutics.
Contact: Emmanuelle Delabre NOXXON Pharma AG Max-Dohrn-Strasse 8-10 10589 Berlin, Germany Phone: +49 (0) 30 726247 100 FAX: +49 (0) 30 726247 225 Email: edelabre@noxxon.com Website: www.noxxon.com
About DEWB Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel- Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG (DEWB AG, Prime Standard, Securities No.: 804100 / ISIN: DE0008041005) is an investment company that specialises in young and established medium-sized companies. The focus of our investments is on strong growth companies from the areas of photonics and sensor systems for which we provide support through shareholders' equity, expertise in corporate development and our sector network. Our regional focus lies in the German speaking countries (D, A, CH). Since 1997 we have invested more than 355 million Euros in 55 companies and realized more than 420 million Euros through 36 exits, eight of which were in the form of IPOs. The company is located in Jena, one of the most successful technology and science regions in Germany, with a long tradition in the field of optical technologies and one of the most important European centres for photonics.
Contact: Marco Scheidler DEWB AG Leutragraben 1 Germany, 07743 Jena Tel: +49 (0) 3641 573 3600 Fax: +49 (0) 3641 573 3610 E-Mail: ir@dewb-vc.com www.dewb-vc.com
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
Marco Scheidler
Tel.: +49 (0) 3641 573-3600
E-Mail: marco.scheidler@dewb-vc.com
Branche: Financial & Business Services
ISIN: DE0008041005
WKN: 804100
Index: CDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
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