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NAUTILUS BIOTECH AND CREABILIS
THERAPEUTICS ACHIEVE TECHNICAL MILESTONE IN COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE HMGB1
BOX A FOR THE TREATMENT OF RAGE- AND HMGB1-RELATED PATHOLOGIES. |
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Paris, France, and Colleretto Giacosa, Italy 14 November 2006,
Nautilus Biotech SA and Creabilis Therapeutics SpA have announced that they have
shown increased biological activity and resistance to proteolysis in vitro of
the High Mobility Group Box One (HMGB1) Box A protein, an important technical
milestone in their collaboration to identify a potential candidate drug for the
treatment of RAGE- (Receptor for Advanced Glycation End products) and
HMGB1-related pathologies, which include hepatitis B, rheumatoid arthritis,
melanoma and sepsis.
HMGB1 is an abundant nuclear and cytoplasmic protein present in mammalian cells,
which, when released, is known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of
several diseases. Native HMGB1 Box A (a DNA-binding domain of HMGB1) is a
specific antagonist of whole HMGB1 on the RAGE receptor. Highly purified native
Box A has been shown to successfully protect against sepsis and other RAGE and
HMGB1-related diseases in animal models.
Nautilus Biotech and Creabilis Therapeutics entered into collaboration in
September 2004 with the aim to develop a drugable variant of native HMBG1 Box A
with improved PK/PD characteristics to be used as a direct antagonist of HMGB1
to treat related pathologies including hepatitis B, rheumatoid arthritis, SLE,
melanoma, sepsis and MS and/or as inhibitor of RAGE to treat diabetes
complications and inflammatory diseases. Using its proprietary protein
engineering technology, Nautilus Biotech created a series of single amino acid
variants of the native Box A protein. Creabilis has now completed testing of all
the variants and has shown that a limited number of these have increased
biological activity in vitro and greater resistance to proteolysis. Creabilis is
now testing these improved molecules in vivo and plans to select the lead
molecule for preclinical development in Q1 2007.
Commenting on the announcement, Dr Manuel Vega, CEO Nautilus Biotech said: “I am
delighted to announce the achievement of this important milestone in our
collaboration with Creabilis Therapeutics, which represents further external
validation of Nautilus core technology for protein engineering. Increasing
resistance to proteolysis and improving biological activity offers important
improvements in drug profiles and has the potential to create highly
differentiated therapeutic products with better patient compliance. Nautilus
Biotech’s technology has wide applicability across many therapeutic protein
families and this collaboration has demonstrated the success of our technology
when applied to small proteins such as HMGB1 Box A, opening the way to other
small proteins and peptides of big clinical potential and market value.”
Dr. Silvano Fumero, CEO Creabilis Therapeutics, said: “We are very pleased with
the results so far achieved in this project as they are a confirmation of the
potential of Nautilus’ proprietary technology when applied to early development
stage proteins. Native Box A has been demonstrated to be active in experimental
models but with a very poor PK profile. Some of the variants obtained with
Nautilus’ technology are now potential drugable compounds.
Nautilus Biotech has already used its technology to develop injectable BELEROFON®,
its protease-resistant, long-lasting Interferon (IFN) alpha, which has
therapeutic potential for the treatment of a number of clinical diseases,
including Chronic Hepatitis C. Nautilus expects to commence a Phase 1 study in
the US in Q1 2007, with the aim of confirming the enhanced pharmacological
profile of subcutaneous BELEROFON®.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
About Nautilus Biotech
Nautilus Biotech is a drug discovery company with a pipeline of next-generation
therapeutic proteins with superior pharmacological profiles that address unmet
clinical needs. The Company’s protein engineering technology can significantly
improve the pharmacological characteristics of important blockbuster protein
drugs, offering improvements in drug stability and administration. The Company
is also creating proprietary ‘third generation’ therapeutic proteins which are,
per se, suitable for oral administration.
The therapeutic proteins market is currently valued at over $30bn, and growing
at a rate of 10-15% per annum. Nautilus has created a portfolio of
next-generation therapeutic proteins with improved profiles, including long
lasting Interferon alpha (Belerofon®), hGH (Vitatropin™), Interferon beta,
Clotting Factor IX, Erythropoietin, Interferon gamma and HMG-B1; it has
established a strong intellectual property position covering enhanced versions
of these multibillion dollars molecules and is rapidly moving these products
towards clinical phases.
Nautilus Biotech is a private company with headquarters in Genopole® biopark, (Evry,
France). For more information about Nautilus Biotech visit
www.nautilusbiotech.com
About Creabilis Therapeutics
CREABILIS Therapeutics is a drug discovery and development biotech company,
founded in May 2003 with the aim to discover, select, develop and bring to
commercial fruition novel and highly innovative therapeutic agents. After three
years of research activity a considerable, competitive and diversified
project/product portfolio has been generated. CREABILIS is today strongly
committed to exploit the potential of its discovery assets and to develop its
novel proprietary candidate products. In addition to HMGB1 Box A, CREABILIS is
developing also direct inhibitors of HMGB1. The most advanced project is related
to CT327 in the topical treatment of psoriasis: a Phase I clinical trial is
planned in 2Q 2007. For more information about Creabilis Therapeutics visit
http://www.creabilistherapeutics.com/
For more information, please contact:
At Nautilus Biotech:
Dr Manuel Vega, CEO
Nautilus Biotech SA
1 rue Pierre Fontaine
91000 Evry, France
Tel: +33.(0)1.60.87.54.60
Fax: +(33) (0) 1 60 87 54 61Email:
mvega@nautilusbiotech.com
Media relations:
At Northbank Communications
Lorna Watson, Account Director
Northbank Communications Ltd
The Media Village, 131-151 Great Titchfield Street,
London, W1W 5BB, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 3008 7559
Fax: +44 (0)20 3008 7551
Email: l.watson@northbankcommunications.com
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