Corporate | 13 January 2016 07:30

WILEX AG: WILEX’s partner Link Health submits IND application for clinical Phase I with the uPA inhibitor MESUPRON(R) in China

DGAP-News: WILEX AG / Key word(s): Alliance

2016-01-13 / 07:30
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

PRESS RELEASE

WILEX’s partner Link Health submits IND application for clinical Phase I with the uPA inhibitor MESUPRON ^(R) in China

– Phase I dose escalation study in solid tumour patients
– WILEX AG will receive remaining amount of EUR 500 k milestone payment
– Phase II programme is planned

Munich, Germany, 13 January 2016. WILEX AG (ISIN DE000A11QVV0 / WL6 / FSE) today announced that its partner Link Health Co., Guangzhou, China, submitted an IND application (Investigational New Drug application) to the CFDA (China Food and Drug Administration) to conduct a Phase I dose escalation study with the cancer compound MESUPRON ^(R) .

The open-label, dose-escalation study will investigate the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical activity of MESUPRON ^(R) in Chinese patients with solid tumours. After this dose escalation study to confirm the biologically effective dose, two Phase II studies in cancer patients are planned.

WILEX AG will receive the remaining amount of the agreed milestone payments totalling EUR 500 k. A partial amount was already paid in the second quarter 2015 after the transfer of a number of MESUPRON ^(R) patents, which were needed by Link Health to apply for grants under a national subsidy programme.

Information on MESUPRON ^(R) and the uPA-programme
WILEX has developed with MESUPRON ^(R) (INN: Upamostat) a drug candidate to inhibit the Urokinase Plasminogen Activator (uPA) system. The uPA system has been shown to play a key role in tumour cell invasion and metastasis, as well as in primary tumour growth, of various solid tumours. In the Company’s view, the uPA inhibitor MESUPRON ^(R) of WILEX can be considered as a promising new non-cytotoxic approach in cancer therapy to prolong progression free survival and to specifically block tumour metastasis in solid cancers. Data from two Phase IIa trials (proof of concept) in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (2010) and metastatic breast cancer (2012) indications show the safety and activity of the drug candidate in combination with chemotherapeutic agents. In 2014, the rights to the development and commercialisation of MESUPRON ^(R) were out-licensed to Link Health Co., Guangzhou, China, for the region comprising China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.

About WILEX
WILEX AG is a biopharmaceutical company which discontinued all clinical development activities at its Munich site and now exercises a holding function as the Group parent. Research and development activities focus on the operations of its subsidiary Heidelberg Pharma GmbH in Ladenburg, which primarily enhances and markets the innovative platform technology for antibody drug conjugates (ADC technology) and also offers preclinical services. WILEX has the diagnostic and therapeutic drug candidates REDECTANE ^(R) and RENCAREX ^(R) , which are available for out-licensing and further development in Phase III for external partners. WILEX is listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange: ISIN DE000A11QVV0/ WKN A11QVV / Symbol WL6. More information is available at http://www.wilex.com/ .

About Link Health Group
Link Health Group is a high-quality pharmaceutical company focused on licensing, registration, clinical study and regulatory consulting services in the Greater China area. Link Health aim at unveiling and promoting innovative drugs, which are made to address crucial medical needs. Based on eight years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Link Health created a strong team to provide solutions for regulatory, (pre)clinical research, licensing, partnering and communications (IND, NDA applications) with the CFDA (China Food and Drug Administration), among others. Link Health Group has expertise in the licensing and co-development of INDs or devices at clinical stage.
Operating from the Chinese market, Link Health Group specialises in linking businesses from different markets to the mutual benefit of each other. The professional teams target and screen the best innovations in medical industry with the aim of creating market value in China with local partners. More information can be found at: www.healthinlink.com

Contact
WILEX AG
Corporate Communications
Sylvia Wimmer
Tel.: +49 (0)89-41 31 38-29
Email: investors[at]wilex.com
Grillparzerstr. 18, 81675 Munich
IR/PR­support
MC Services AG
Katja Arnold (CIRO)
Tel.: +49 (0)89-210 228-40
Mobile: +49 (0)160 9360 3022
Email: katja.arnold[at]mc-services.eu

This communication contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the Company’s business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “estimates”, “believes”, “expects”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “future”, “potential” or similar expressions or by a general discussion of the Company’s strategy, plans or intentions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results of operations, financial position, earnings, achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, earnings or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors and partners are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.

2016-01-13 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP – a service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de

Language:	English
Company:	WILEX AG
	Grillparzerstr. 18
	81675 München
	Germany
Phone:	+49 (0)89 41 31 38 – 0
Fax:	+49 (0)89 41 31 38 – 99
E-mail:	info@wilex.com
Internet:	www.wilex.com
ISIN:	DE000A11QVV0
WKN:	A11QVV
Listed:	Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart

End of News DGAP News Service