| Strasbourg and Paris, November 25, 1998 — TRANSGENE and the "Association Française contre les Myopathies" (the "AFM") today announced the renewal of their agreement to accelerate the research and development of gene therapy treatments for neuromuscular diseases, particularly Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). |   |
Under the agreement — which will expire on June 30, 2001, unless it is further extended — AFM is providing funding for a research program in an amount of 84 million French Francs (USD 14.7 million). Of this amount, 20 million French Francs (USD 3.5 million) will be loaned to TRANSGENE without interest and will be repayable upon the launch upon commercial lauch of a new therapy arising from the collaboration. TRANSGENE will contribute to the program its expertise and technology in the area of gene transfer, in particular its vector platform, and will continue its efforts in the development of a gene therapy for DMD.
TRANSGENE and AFM also expect to develop other gene therapies directed to the treatment of other neuromuscular and rare genetic diseases for which AFM has access to the rights on the genes of therapeutic interest. Under the agreement, TRANSGENE will be the exclusive development partner, with AFM reserving the right to develop gene therapies with third parties if TRANSGENE decides not to develop a gene therapy product for such diseases.
"The renewal of our collaboration with AFM testifies to the quality of our scientific team and technology" said Bernard Gilly, President and CEO of TRANSGENE. "It gives TRANSGENE additional resources to continue its efforts in the development of vectors, and especially to support the development of therapies for the treatment of muscular dystrophies. It also gives us an excellent opportunity to attack this very difficult scientific hurdle that the targeting of muscular cells represents."
"The successful development of gene therapy is dependent on an effective way to deliver therapeutic genes to specific target cells. TRANSGENE believes that its diversified vector platform could enable it to select a safe and efficient vector for the insertion of genes into muscles" Gilly added.
Since 1958, AFM has been organizing patients ailing from neuromuscular diseases and their families. In order to obtain sufficient means to stimulate genetic research in France, AFM launched the Telethon in 1987. Using the proceeds of the Telethon, AFM created Genethon in 1990, which produced, in 1992, the first maps of the human genome. This year, AFM launches "the Great Adventure" for the development of gene therapies, of which the agreement with TRANSGENE constitutes an essential part.
TRANSGENE, based in Strasbourg, France, is an integrated biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of gene therapy technologies and products for the treatment of acquired or inherited diseases for which there is no cure or adequate therapy at present. Its proprietary technology platform includes adenoviral, vaccinia viral, retroviral, cellular and a range of synthetic vectors for gene delivery. Three of these vector families are currently in clinical development for several disease applications. TRANSGENE currently has three Phase II studies ongoing targeting a number of different cancers. TRANSGENE has two major partnering agreements with Schering-Plough and Human Genome Sciences.
Source: Transgène
