Keele, UK, 20th January 2006 - Cobra Biomanufacturing Plc. (AIM: CBF), today announces an agreement with Debiopharm S.A., a Swiss drug development company, for the manufacture of the biopharmaceutical protein huTNFα Kinoid. The agreement includes process development and supply of material for clinical trials. The new agreement replaces a prior manufacturing deal with Neovacs SA, who has licensed the programme to Debiopharm.

David Thatcher, CEO of Cobra, said: “We are pleased to continue with the process development aspect of the TNFα kinoid project whilst forging a new relationship with Debiopharm. This agreement recognises Cobra’s previous success in this project and our expertise in producing therapeutic protein vaccines.”

 

 

About Cobra Biomanufacturing Plc:
Cobra Biomanufacturing Plc is a leading international manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals to the life science industry. Founded in 1992, Cobra provides innovative manufacturing solutions to the biopharmaceutical industry covering DNA, virus, cellular therapeutics and recombinant protein products. Cobra was the first company to develop and gain GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standard DNA manufacture in Europe, with specific expertise in DNA medicines. A range of unique, patented technologies, underpins this revenue generating business.
 
Cobra floated on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange in June 2002 raising £7 million and raised a further £5.2 million in May 2003 in order to further expand capacity in Oxford UK.
 
Cobra is committed to conducting its manufacturing activities in accordance with appropriate current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) and Good Control Laboratory Practice (GCLP) regulations and/or guidelines. The MHRA has granted a “Manufacturer’s Authorization for Investigational Medicinal Products” under the Directive 2001/20/EC and applies to booth the Keele and Oxford facilities. www.cobrabio.com

 

About TNF Kinoid
Overproduction of protein cytokines such as TNFα is the cause of many inflammatory diseases, such as cancer cachexia and autoimmune diseases. The TNFα kinoid consists of inactivated cytokines, conjugated to a carrier and serves as an active immunisation therapy. The kinoid treatment induces a potent antibody response by the patient’s immune system which neutralises the harmful effects of cytokine overproduction.

 

About Debiopharm S.A.
Founded in 1979 in Lausanne, Switzerland, Debiopharm is an experienced and competent drug development company that in-licenses compounds with promising in-vivo results to develop for global registration and to out-license to sales and marketing pharmaceutical partners.

 

Debiopharm is part of an established group of five complementary and synergistic companies, namely Debiovision in Canada, Debioinnovation and Debio R.P. in Switzerland and Debioclinic in France. Together, they provide drug development expertise and know-how from the evaluation of early-stage and innovative research, partnering, financing, pre-clinical and clinical trials, to manufacturing and sophisticated drug-delivery systems.

 

Debiopharm has developed and registered three products with combined sales in excess of $2.2bn in 2005: Eloxatin®, one of sanofi-aventis’ leading marketed products; Decapeptyl®, the leading product of Ipsen; and Trelstar® (1-and 3-month), marketed by Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

For further information please contact:
Cobra Biomanufacturing Plc
David Thatcher, Chief Executive Officer, Tel: + 44 (0) 1782 714181
 
Northbank Communications
Marc Egelhofer, Tel: 44 (0) 1260 296 500

 

Buchanan Communications
Tim Anderson / Rebecca Skye Dietrich, Tel: 44 (0) 207 466 5000