Champions Biotechnology, Inc. Signs Exclusive Licensing Agreement with Ramot for TAR-1, a Novel Therapeutic for the Treatment of
27 Outubro 2009 - 10:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Champions Biotechnology Building Tumorgraft-Driven Oncology Drug
Pipeline BALTIMORE, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Champions
Biotechnology, Inc. (OTC:CSBR) (BULLETIN BOARD: CSBR) , an oncology
drug development company with a predictive preclinical platform
aimed at accelerating the development and enhancing the value of
oncology drugs, has established an exclusive licensing agreement
with Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd., Tel Aviv University's
wholly owned technology transfer company. The licensing agreement
encompasses the development and commercialization of TAR-1, a
single-chain antibody fragment in preclinical development that may
have an advantage in treating cancer patients because of its high
specificity and affinity to binding mutant p53 protein. Under the
terms of the agreement, Champions has obtained the worldwide rights
to TAR-1 and is responsible for the further development of the
compound. Champions will utilize its Biomerk Tumorgraft(TM)
platform technology to evaluate the activity of TAR-1 and determine
the best path forward for the compound in regards to indication,
patient population and potential drug combinations. Ramot will
receive an upfront payment and will be eligible to receive
milestone payments and royalties if Champions chooses to continue
the license terms, which will be determined based on results from
testing TAR-1 in the predictive Tumorgraft platform. Prof. Beka
Solomon from Tel Aviv University identified that TAR-1 binds to and
restores the wild-type active conformation of mutant p53 protein
with a high degree of specificity, leading to in vivo inhibition of
tumor growth. Given the frequency of mutant p53 in cancer, TAR-1
has the potential to target a wide range of human cancers.
"Licensing TAR-1 demonstrates the progression of our strategy to
build our own Tumorgraft-driven pipeline of oncology drugs, which
we expect to yield improved clinical development success rates,"
said Guy Malchi, Champions Biotechnology's Head of Corporate
Development and International Operations. "We were impressed by the
potential of TAR-1 and we are planning to continue to in-license
oncology drug candidates with compelling science and to develop
only those with positive Tumorgraft results." TAR-1 will undergo
Tumorgraft testing as Champions completes Tumorgraft testing of its
other oncology drug, SG410, a tubulin inhibitor. "We are excited to
work with Champions Biotechnology. Their predictive platform and
experienced scientific and clinical team make them an ideal
candidate to move TAR-1 forward into the clinic and on the path to
commercialization," said Dr. Ze'ev Weinfeld, CEO, Ramot at Tel Aviv
University Ltd. For more information regarding Champions
Biotechnology's growing business and recent news, please visit
http://www.championsbiotechnology.com/. About Champions
Biotechnology, Inc. Champions Biotechnology, Inc. is engaged in the
development of advanced preclinical platforms and tumor specific
data to enhance and accelerate the value of oncology drugs. The
Company's Preclinical Platform is a novel approach based upon the
implantation of primary human tumors in immune deficient mice
followed by propagation of the resulting engraftments (Biomerk
Tumorgrafts(TM)) in a manner that preserves the biological
characteristics of the original human tumor. Early studies suggest
that unlike traditional xenografts, these Tumorgrafts closely
reflect human cancer biology and their response to drugs is
predictive of clinical outcomes in cancer patients. Champions
Biotechnology leverages its preclinical platform to evaluate drug
candidates and to develop a portfolio of novel therapeutic
candidates. As drugs progress through early stage development, the
Company plans to sell, partner or license them to pharmaceutical
and/or biotechnology companies, as appropriate. The Company also
offers its predictive preclinical platform and tumor specific data
to physicians for personalized patient care and to companies for
evaluation of oncology drugs in models that integrate prognostic
testing with biomarker discovery.
http://www.championsbiotechnology.com/
http://www.personalizedcancertreatment.com/ Ramot at Tel Aviv
University Ltd. Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd. is the technology
transfer company of Tel Aviv University (TAU). Ramot fosters,
initiates, leads and manages the transfer of new technologies from
university laboratories to the marketplace by performing all
activities relating to the protection and commercialization of
inventions and discoveries made by faculty, students and other
researchers. Ramot provides a dynamic interface connecting industry
to leading edge science and innovation, offering new business
opportunities in a wide variety of emerging markets. Founded in
1956, TAU is one of Israel's foremost research and teaching
universities. Located in Israel's cultural, financial and
industrial heartland, TAU is at the forefront of basic and applied
research in a wide variety of scientific research disciplines.
http://www.ramot.org/ This press release contains "forward-looking
statements" (within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Act of 1995) that inherently involve risk and
uncertainties. Champions Biotechnology generally uses words such as
"believe," "may," "could," "will," "intend," "expect,"
"anticipate," "plan," and similar expressions to identify
forward-looking statements. One should not place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements. The Company's actual results
could differ materially from those anticipated in the
forward-looking statements for many unforeseen factors. See
Champions Biotechnology's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April
30, 2009 for a discussion of such risks, uncertainties and other
factors. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected
in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, they relate only
to events as of the date on which the statements are made, and
Champions Biotechnology's future results, levels of activity,
performance or achievements may not meet these expectations. The
Company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking
statements after the date of this press release to conform these
statements to actual results or to changes in Champions
Biotechnology's expectations, except as required by law. MEDIA
CONTACTS: The Investor Relations Group James Carbonara
+1-212-825-3210 Yamit Nissnaov, PR for Ramot Office: +972-9-9514666
Mobile: +972-52-5541810 Email: DATASOURCE: Champions Biotechnology,
Inc. CONTACT: The Investor Relations Group: James Carbonara,
+1-212-825-3210; or Yamit Nissnaov, PR for Ramot, Office:
+972-9-9514666, or Mobile: +972-52-5541810, Web Site:
http://www.championsbiotechnology.com/
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