| Biocitech Park, Romainville, France, October 30, 2007 — Endotis Pharma, a specialty pharma company dedicated to the discovery and development of small glycodrugs (SGDs) for applications in thrombosis and oncology, today announced that it has signed an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with Organon, the human healthcare business unit of Akzo Nobel, concerning the development and commercialization of three antithrombotic compounds with unprecedented, dual mechanisms of action. |   |
Under the terms of the agreement, Endotis has acquired exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Org 42675, Org 217609 (a neutralizable follow-up of Org 42675) and Org 224283, three antithrombotic compounds with unprecedented dual mechanism of action.
Org 42675 / Org 217609 display a new and original dual mechanism of action, combining blood coagulation factor Xa inhibition and thrombin inhibition. Org 42675 has successfully completed two phase I clinical trials. Org 224283 also displays an innovative dual mechanism of action, combining factor Xa inhibition and an antiplatelet effect, both effects being neutralizable by a specific antidote. Org 224283 is at a preclinical-stage of development.
Charles Woler, Chairman and CEO of Endotis Pharma, declared: "We are delighted to sign this licensing agreement, as these compounds will strongly reinforce our position in thrombosis. Due to their oligosaccharide structure, they perfectly fit with our focus on small-glyco drugs. We are proud that Organon has chosen Endotis to develop these very promising compounds."
David Nicholson, executive vice president Research and Development of Organon added: "We are excited to bring this opportunity to Endotis and Organon will continue to bring in its expertise in manufacturing and development. This deal maximizes the chances of bringing these innovative compounds to patients in need of anti-thrombotic care."
Together with these three advanced in-licensed compounds from Organon, Endotis is using its productive and innovative drug engine to building a unique pipeline of compounds in thrombosis and oncology. Endotis' drug discovery platform has already generated a number of promising SGD compounds, including:
a. the EP37 program, dedicated to oral prevention and treatment of thrombosis and for which a development candidate will be available in early 2008.
b. the EP8000 program, focused on multi-target compounds with activity against a number of growth factors involved in cancer development, angiogenesis and metastasis.
About Endotis Pharma (www.endotis.com)
Founded in 2003, Endotis Pharma is a specialty pharma company dedicated to the discovery and development of small-glyco drugs (SGDs) for applications in thrombosis and oncology. Endotis Pharma has built a well-balanced portfolio of pre-clinical and clinical stage compounds, either in-licensed (from Organon: EP42675, an anticoagulant that has completed two phase I, EP217609, the neutralizable form of EP4675 and EP224283, an antithrombotic which is in preclinicals) or generated by the company's own drug discovery platform (EP37 program, focused on the oral prevention and treatment of thrombosis, and EP8000 program in oncology). The SGDs developed by Endotis are based on fully synthetic oligosaccharides mimicking glycosaminoglycans, which is the core field of expertise of Endotis' scientists. Proof of concept has already been established with synthetic oligosaccharides in cardiovascular/thrombosis, with oncology being the next promising therapeutic area. Endotis currently has 26 employees (including 14 PhDs/MDs) based in Paris and Lille (France). Sofinnova Partners is a lead investor in Endotis Pharma.
About Organon (www.organon.com)
Organon creates, manufactures and markets innovative prescription medicines that improve the health and quality of human life. Through a combination of innovation and business partnerships, Organon seeks to leverage its position as a leading biopharmaceutical company in each of its core therapeutic fields: fertility, gynecology and selected areas of anesthesia. It has extensive expertise in neuroscience and a rich and focused R&D program. Research areas also include immunology and specific areas of oncology. Organon products are distributed in over 100 countries worldwide, of which more than 50 have an Organon subsidiary. Organon is the human healthcare business unit of Akzo Nobel.
Disclaimer: the development of new drug technologies is difficult, erratic and unpredictable. Endotis Pharma’s forecasts and future economic performance depend on research that has yet to be performed and on a number of other factors. The company's future economic performance may differ significantly from that currently forecasted.
Source: Endotis Pharma
