Download Wilex licenses Anti-cancer Antibody from VU University Medical

PRESS RELEASE
Wilex licenses Anti-cancer Antibody from VU University
Medical Center Amsterdam
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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