24th May 2006 07:01
Evolutec Group PLC24 May 2006 For immediate release 24 May 2006 EVOLUTEC GROUP PLC ("Evolutec" or "the Company") CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY TO COLLABORATE IN MYASTHENIA GRAVIS Evolutec Group plc (AIM: EVC), the biopharmaceutical company developing novelproducts for the treatment of allergic, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, ispleased to announce that Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, ("Case") is to carry out further preclinical studies of rEV576, Evolutec's seconddevelopment candidate, in the auto-immune disease myasthenia gravis. Evolutecwill provide the rEV576 and Case will provide the research funding. The preclinical programme, which will consider the effectiveness of rEV576 as apotential treatment for myasthenia gravis, will be undertaken during 2006 byProfessor Henry J. Kaminski, Case's Vice Chair of Neurology. Professor Kaminski's interest follows the striking positive preclinical resultin myasthenia gravis announced by Evolutec in September 2005, in which a singledose of rEV576 completely prevented paralysis and weight loss over a five dayperiod. Myasthenia gravis, of which there are approximately 36,000 cases in the US,results in progressive fatigue, loss of muscle tone and in severe casesincreasing paralysis. There is no existing curative therapy for the condition,and Evolutec has applied for Orphan Drug Status from the US Food and DrugAdministration. Mark Carnegie Brown, Evolutec's Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We aredelighted by Professor Kaminski's interest in rEV576. Pending a successfuloutcome of this collaboration and other preclinical programmes, we aim toprogress rEV576 to the clinic in 2007." Professor Henry J. Kaminski commented: "I am excited about rEV576 as it appearsto have the qualities required to treat this debilitating and progressiveautoimmune disease. I look forward to the results from this programme." ENDS For further information:Evolutec 0118 922 4480Mark Carnegie Brown, Chief Executive OfficerNicholas Badman, Chief Financial Officerwww.evolutec.co.uk Buchanan Communications 020 7466 5000Mark Court/Tim Anderson/Mary-Jane Johnson Notes for Editors: About Evolutec Evolutec, which is based in Reading, UK, is a clinical stage biopharmaceuticalcompany with a focus on allergy, inflammation and auto-immune diseases. The Company has completed a positive 112 patient proof of concept Phase IIaclinical trial with rEV131, its lead product, in allergic rhinitis. rEV131 metthe primary endpoint of reducing the sum of symptom scores at statisticallysignificant levels within 45mins of administration. Evolutec intends to completea further Phase IIb trial in allergic rhinitis and additional proof of conceptPhase II trials in post-cataract surgery and dry eye in 2006. Positivepre-clinical data has also been generated in asthma. rEV131 is a histaminebinding protein that impacts the H1, H2 and recently discovered H4 histaminereceptor. This mode of action gives rEV131 a unique product profile of reducingboth early and late stage inflammation. The Company has a further two products in pre-clinical development: rEV598,which is being evaluated in CINV (chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting), andrEV576, a complement inhibitor indicated for treating reperfusion injury inischemic heart disease, stroke and cardiopulmonary bypass. Evolutec is listed on the London Stock Exchange and develops therapeuticsoriginally isolated from the saliva of ticks. The tick remains undetected by itshosts, including humans, by injecting an array of molecules into the skin thatsuppresses host immunity. These stealth molecules have undergone millions ofyears of natural evolution to select a promising efficacy, potency and safetyprofile. Evolutec employs the tick's evolutionary stealth technology to offerthe potential of treating human diseases. About Case Case is among the US's leading research institutions. Founded in 1826 and shapedby the merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western ReserveUniversity, Case is distinguished by its strengths in education, research, andservice. Located in Cleveland, Case Western offers nationally recognizedprograms in the Arts and Sciences, Dentistry, Engineering, Law, Management,Medicine, Nursing, and Social Sciences. Professor Kaminski is the recipient ofa National Institutes of Health ("NIH") grant to investigate new therapies formyasthenia gravis. Safe Harbour statement: this news release may contain forward-looking statementsthat reflect the current expectations of the Company regarding future events.Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events coulddiffer materially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factorsincluding the success of the Company's research strategies, the applicability ofthe discoveries made therein, the successful and timely completion of clinicalstudies, the uncertainties related to the regulatory process, the successfulintegration of completed mergers and acquisitions and achievement of expectedsynergies from such transactions, and the ability of the Company to identify andconsummate suitable strategic and business combination transactions. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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