XOMA 3AB Progress Presented at National Biodefense Research Meeting
BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 2, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XOMA Ltd. (Nasdaq:XOMA), a leader in the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies, today announced several presentations that will highlight advances in the company's biodefense program and particularly in the development of XOMA 3AB, an antibody co-mixture that binds to distinct regions of botulinum toxin type A. The presentations will be made at the Interagency Botulism Research Coordinating Committee Meeting (IBRCC), the largest dedicated meeting of interagency experts in the development of therapies against the botulinum toxin bioterror threat. The IBRCC meeting is taking place from November 2 to 5, 2010 in Atlanta, GA.
XOMA 3AB is in pre-IND studies to neutralize botulinum toxin type A, which is among the most deadly potential bioterror threats. XOMA 3AB is under development through funding provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.
"The IBRCC meeting is a leading venue for providing scientists and government leaders with up-to-date information on the excellent progress in our anti-botulinum toxin program, for which we have signed more than $100 million in U.S. government contracts to date. Our presentation of six abstracts at the IBRCC clearly emphasizes our expertise and technical leadership position in this strategically important space," said Steve B. Engle, XOMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
The presentations are:
Recombinant Monoclonal Antibody Co-mixture Based Monovalent Antitoxin Development for Treatment of Type A, B and E Botulism Development of a Platform Formulation for Multi-Monoclonal Antibody Mixtures for Treatment of Exposure to Types A, B and E Botulinum Toxin Formulation Screening of Transiently Expressed Antibodies Against Types B and E Botulinum Neurotoxins to Support Preclinical Candidate Selection A Single-dose Pharmacokinetic Study of XOMA 3AB, a Novel Triple Monoclonal Antibody Formulation Targeting Botulinum Toxin Type A Development of a Lyophilized Formulation for XOMA 3AB Early Downstream Process Optimization to Define Viral Safety is Critical in Platform Process Development for Monoclonal Antibodies
These projects have been funded in whole or in part with funds from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services under Contract No. HHSN266200600008C, Contract No. HHSN272200800028C, or Contract No. HHSN266200600011C.
About XOMA
XOMA discovers, develops and manufactures novel antibody therapeutics for its own proprietary pipeline as well as through license and collaborative agreements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and under its contracts with the U.S. government. The company's proprietary product pipeline includes:
XOMA 052, an anti-IL-1 beta antibody, is in Phase 2 clinical development for Type 2 diabetes with cardiovascular biomarkers, Type 1 diabetes, and with potential for the treatment of a wide range of inflammatory conditions. XOMA 052 also has demonstrated positive clinical benefit in a proof-of-concept trial for the treatment of vision-threatening uveitis of Behcet's disease. XOMA 3AB, an antibody candidate in pre-IND studies to neutralize the botulinum toxin, among the most deadly potential bioterror threats, under development through funding provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. A preclinical pipeline focused on product candidates for autoimmune, inflammatory and oncologic diseases.
In addition to its proprietary pipeline, XOMA develops products with premier pharmaceutical companies including Novartis AG, Schering Corporation, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.
XOMA's technologies have contributed to the success of marketed antibody products, including LUCENTIS(R) (ranibizumab injection) for wet age-related macular degeneration and CIMZIA(R) (certolizumab pegol) for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.
The company has a premier antibody discovery and development platform that incorporates an unmatched collection of antibody phage display libraries and proprietary Human Engineering(tm), affinity maturation, Bacterial Cell Expression (BCE) and manufacturing technologies. BCE is a key breakthrough biotechnology for the discovery and manufacturing of antibodies and other proteins. As a result, 60 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have signed BCE licenses, and several licensed product candidates are in clinical development.
XOMA has a fully integrated product development infrastructure, extending from pre-clinical science to approval, and a team of about 225 employees at its Berkeley, California location. For more information, please visit http://www.xoma.com.
The XOMA Ltd. logo is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5960
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained herein concerning product development and capabilities of XOMA's technologies or that otherwise relate to future periods are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on assumptions that may not prove accurate. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to certain risks inherent in the biotechnology industry and for companies engaged in the development of new products in a regulated market.
These risks, including the generally unstable nature of current economic and financial market conditions; the results of discovery research and pre-clinical testing; the timing or results of pending and future clinical trials (including the design and progress of clinical trials; safety and efficacy of the products being tested; action, inaction or delay by the FDA, European or other regulators or their advisory bodies; and analysis or interpretation by, or submission to, these entities or others of scientific data); availability of additional collaborative and licensing opportunities; changes in the status of existing collaborative and licensing relationships; the ability of collaborators, licensees and other third parties to meet their obligations; XOMA's ability to meet the demands of the United States government agency with which it has entered into its government contracts; competition; market demand for products; scale-up and marketing capabilities; international operations; share price volatility; XOMA's financing needs and opportunities; uncertainties regarding the status of biotechnology patents; uncertainties as to the costs of protecting intellectual property; and risks associated with XOMA's status as a Bermuda company, are described in more detail in XOMA's most recent filing on Form 10-K and in other SEC filings. Consider such risks carefully when considering XOMA's prospects.
CONTACT: XOMA Ltd.
Company and Investor Contact:
Carol DeGuzman
510-204-7270
deguzman@xoma.com
Canale Communications
Media Contact:
Carolyn Hawley
619-849-5375
carolyn@canalecomm.com
Image: company logo
Released November 2, 2010