Pieris validates the use of Anticalins® as ophthalmologic biotherapeutics
Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany (ots)
Pieris AG, a bio-pharmaceutical company developing Anticalins®, a novel class of targeted human protein therapeutics, today announced successful completion of a series of preclinical studies validating the use of Anticalins® in ophthalmologic disease.
The studies reported by Pieris relate to PRS-055, an Anticalin® specific for VEGF. VEGF is a key factor in the regulation of neovascular permeability and is implicated in debilitating eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), proliferative diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity. Intravitreal injection of PRS-055 has been shown to inhibit VEGF-induced breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier in a rabbit in vivo model. The antagonistic effect of PRS-055 has been shown to be of equivalent potency to that of the approved ophthalmology product Lucentis® (ranibizumab; Genentech / Novartis).
"These exciting results have demonstrated that Anticalins® are viable candidates as potent biotherapeutics for diseases of the eye" said Dr Andreas Hohlbaum, Director of Science and Preclinical Development of Pieris. "Based on the success of the PRS-055 program to date, we are now selecting technologies for depot and/or non-invasive drug delivery that will exploit the favorable size and excellent stability characteristics of Anticalins®."
The preclinical data on PRS-055 will be presented on September 8th, 2007, at the IV. International Symposium of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) in Baden-Baden, Germany.
Anticalin® is registered trademark of Pieris AG.
Contact:
For further information, please contact:
Pieris AG
Dr Andreas Hohlbaum, Director of Science and Preclinical Research
Phone +49 (0) 8161 1411 400
Further information is available at http://www.pieris-ag.com