Corporate | 17 May 2013 07:00
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Cytos Biotechnology AG / Key word(s): Study
17 May, 2013 A*STAR AND CYTOS BRING SINGAPORE’S FIRST INFLUENZA VACCINE TO CLINICAL TESTING The vaccine based on Cytos’ Virus-Like Particle technology may open the door to accelerated production of influenza vaccines in Singapore. Singapore and Schlieren (Zurich), Switzerland, May 17, 2013 – Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Switzerland’s Cytos Biotechnology AG today announced that the first healthy volunteer has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial with their H1N1 influenza vaccine candidate based on Cytos’ proprietary bacteriophage Qbeta virus-like particle (VLP) technology. In this first Phase 1 clinical trial, the safety and immunogenicity of this novel vaccine candidate and its potential to protect against H1N1 influenza infection will be evaluated. A*STAR is developing the vaccine candidate under a collaborative research, development and commercialization agreement entered into with Cytos in 2010 , with the goal of providing the government of Singapore an effective means of combatting influenza epidemics and pandemics. Under the agreement, Cytos retains the worldwide right to develop and commercialize the vaccine candidate globally, while A*STAR subsidiaries will have the right to develop and commercialize the vaccine for Singapore and other ASEAN countries and can earn royalties on worldwide net sales. Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR and Co-Chair of the Biomedical Sciences Executive Committee in Singapore said, ‘This is the first time Singapore is attempting to make its own flu vaccine. In the wake of the recent H7N9 bird flu outbreak, it is timely that A*STAR is bringing Singapore’s first H1N1 flu vaccine into Phase 1 clinical trial. This different approach of making flu vaccines will better respond to the needs of a flu outbreak. I am pleased that the collaboration with Cytos is making a meaningful contribution to Singapore’s pandemic readiness, a critical aspect of our national security. The success of this potential vaccine will be of significant impact not only to the region but also the world.’ Christian Itin, PhD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cytos, commented, ‘We are very pleased with the fruitful collaboration which has led to the clinical start of this novel influenza vaccine. This is an important milestone for the program and the first clinical program using Cytos’ B-cell vaccine platform for a prophylactic vaccine against an infectious disease.’ Professor Alex Matter, Chief Executive Officer of D3 (Drug Discovery and Development) and A*STAR’s Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC) said, ‘If this VLP-vaccine strategy proves to be effective, it can accelerate the production of vaccines against new emerging strains of flu. This will greatly aid Singapore’s preparedness to produce vaccines quickly, safely and economically in the event of a flu epidemic. This could potentially open doors for faster production of vaccines to a range of viral diseases as well.’
http://www.a-star.edu.sg/Portals/0/media/Press%20Release/20100715_ASTAR-Cytos%20flu%20vaccine.pdf
A*STAR’s Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC) was the primary driver of the multi-institutional effort culminating in the start of the clinical development program, which involved academic and clinical partners across Singapore, namely A*STAR’s Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), DSO National Laboratories and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. Since early 2012, D3, which works hand in hand with Cytos and other local entities, has been leading the development of the H1N1 influenza vaccine project aiming to achieve proof-of-concept in humans. This Phase 1 clinical trial is being conducted at the SingHealth Investigational Medicine Unit and the Changi General Hospital Trials and Research unit in Singapore. For further information, please contact:
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Cytos Biotechnology AG
US Investor enquiries
About Influenza Infection and Vaccination
About the Influenza Vaccine Developed By A*STAR and Cytos
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
In line with its mission-oriented mandate, A*STAR spearheads research and development in fields that are essential to growing Singapore’s manufacturing sector and catalysing new growth industries. A*STAR supports these economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. A*STAR oversees 20 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research entities, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis as well as their vicinity. These two R&D hubs house a bustling and diverse community of local and international research scientists and engineers from A*STAR’s research entities as well as a growing number of corporate laboratories. For more information about A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg
About D3
About Cytos Biotechnology Ltd
CYT003 acts via a novel, allergen-independent mechanism of action to selectively suppress the body’s immune response to allergens, a predominant risk factor for asthma. In a successfully completed Phase 2a study, CYT003 was shown to maintain asthma control and lung function in patients with persistent allergic asthma, even as standard inhaled corticosteroid treatment was withdrawn. CYT003 has been shown to be safe in over 450 patients to date. Cytos was founded in 1995 as a spinoff from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. It is located in Schlieren (Zurich), Switzerland. The Company is listed according to the Main Standard on the SIX Swiss Exchange Ltd under the symbol CYTN. This foregoing press release may contain forward-looking statements that include words or phrases such as ‘are intended for’, ‘are designed to’, or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of significant uncertainties, including scientific, business, economic and financial factors, and therefore actual results may differ significantly from those presented. There can be no assurance that any further therapeutic entities will enter clinical trials, that clinical trial results will be predictive for future results, that therapeutic entities will be the subject of filings for regulatory approval, that any drug candidates will receive marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or equivalent regulatory authorities, or that drugs will be marketed successfully. Against the background of these uncertainties readers should not rely on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or adapt them to future events or developments.
End of Corporate News 17.05.2013 This press release was distributed by EQS CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS. www.eqs.com – news archive: www.eqs.com/ch/presskit The issuer is responsible for the contents of the release. |
| Language: | English | |
| Company: | Cytos Biotechnology AG | |
| Wagistr. 25 | ||
| 8952 Schlieren | ||
| Switzerland | ||
| Phone: | +41 44 733 4747 | |
| Fax: | +41 44 733 4740 | |
| E-mail: | info@cytos.com | |
| Internet: | www.cytos.com | |
| ISIN: | CH0011025217, CH0029060735 | |
| Swiss Security Number: | – | |
| Listed: | Freiverkehr in Berlin, München, Stuttgart; Frankfurt in Open Market ; SIX | |
| End of News | EquityStory AG News-Service |
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| 211532 17.05.2013 |