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PRESS RELEASE Wilex licenses Anti-cancer Antibody from VU University Medical Center Amsterdam - Chimeric monoclonal antibody K931 targets the Ep-CAM antigen which is widely expressed on solid cancers. Wilex plans to start phase I clinical trials with K931 in 2004. Munich (Germany) and Amsterdam (The Netherlands), 15 May 2003. Wilex AG, Munich, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel cancer therapies and VU University Medical Center Amsterdam (VUmc) announced today that Wilex has acquired an exclusive licence from VUmc for the monoclonal antibody K931 for the treatment of various cancers. K931 targets the Ep-CAM antigen which is widely expressed on solid cancers including colon, gastric, prostate, breast, small cell lung cancer and lung adeno carcinoma. Wilex plans to start clinical phase I trials with K931 in cancer patients in 2004. Under the agreement, Wilex receives full exclusive licences to both the chimeric and the murine K931 antibody developed by VUmc and to the cell lines producing the antibody in return for undisclosed upfront, milestone and royalty payments. Professor Olaf G. Wilhelm, Chief Executive Officer of Wilex, said: “K931 perfectly completes Wilex’ advanced anti-cancer product portfolio. Wilex has developed its first monoclonal antibody G250 from pre-clinic right to the start of phase III in less than four years and we are confident we will also be able to successfully develop K931.” Professor Guus van Dongen, Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery of VUmc, commented: “We are very happy to out-license K931 to an experienced group with a clear focus on cancer. K931 targets the highly attractive Ep-CAM antigen and, in pre-clinical studies, has shown to be a very promising drug candidate for the treatment of various cancers. We believe that Wilex with its broad expertise in antibody development, clinical development and regulatory affairs is the perfect partner to further develop K931.” About the Ep-CAM antigen and the monoclonal antibody K931 Ep-CAM (“Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule”) is probably the antigen most widely expressed on epithelial tumors including colon, gastric, pancreatic, prostate, lung-adeno, small cell lung cancer, breast cancer and other solid cancers. It is also expressed on normal epithelial cells. The monoclonal antibody K931 showed a very high affinity to the Ep-CAM molecule in preclinical development as well as high ADCC capacities. (ADCC – Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity – is the mechanism by which antibodies induce natural killer cells and other effector cells of the patients’ immune system to destroy the tumor cells.) About Wilex Wilex is developing novel cancer therapies for the treatment of various cancers. The company has two platforms: monoclonal antibodies and anti-metastatic small moleculebased therapies. Wilex has three products in clinical development and a broad Pre-clinical and Research pipeline. The monoclonal antibody WX-G250 for the treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma has completed phase II clinical trials and is currently staged for a clinical phase III trial to start in 2003. The small molecule serine protease inhibitor WX-UK1, which blocks metastasis of solid cancers, is currently in a phase I/II trial in patients with solid cancers. Wilex was founded in 1997 by clinical oncologists of Technical University of Munich. About VU University Medical Center Amsterdam The VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam is one of the eight university medical centers in the Netherlands. Its tertiary clinical care and tertiary referral-centre care functions emphasize both the VU University Medical Center’s academic nature and its leading role in the Dutch health service. This often involves unique diagnosis and treatment, and specialized research. Naturally, the VU University Medical Center also functions as a hospital, with an outpatients department, where patients can obtain normal specialized care. The other principal tasks of the VU University Medical Center are scientific research, academic programmes and training. The VUmc contributes to healthcare at every level, both within the borders of the Netherlands, and beyond. Further Information: Wilex AG Jochen Orlowski (Public Relations) Tel.: +49-(0)89 413138-29 (-0) Fax: +49-(0)89 413138-99 Mail: [email protected] Web: www.wilex.com VU University Medical Center Amsterdam Professor Guus van Dongen Tel: +31-(20) 4440953 Fax: +31-(20) 4443688 Mail: [email protected] Web: www.VUmc.nl