15 August 2005
Clavis Pharma, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of improved cancer therapeutics, today announced the issuance of the European patent EP 0977 725 B1. This new patent is a comprehensive umbrella patent that covers the application of Clavis Pharma's Lipid Vector Technology to make new therapeutics with improved properties based on known pharmaceutically active compounds in a number of disease areas.
"This broad patent, which was issued without opposition, significantly strengthens Clavis Pharma's intellectual property position and further differentiates Clavis Pharma from other biopharmaceutical companies. It opens additional strategic opportunities and allows us to more aggressively advance our next generation cancer drug candidates through clinical development," said Tom Pike, Chairman and CEO of Clavis Pharma. "The patent is particularly important as the basis for the development of Clavis Pharma's cancer drugs in collaboration with strategic partners."
Clavis Pharma's Lipid Vector Technology allows the synthesis of specific fatty acid analogues of pharmaceutical agents, thus creating new proprietary compounds with improved therapeutic properties. A large number of analogues have been shown to achieve improved performance and more convenient dosing characteristics and to open new applications for established pharmaceuticals in areas such as cancer and viral diseases. The Lipid Vector Technology was originally developed based on extensive research conducted by Norsk Hydro, a major Norwegian industrial group. Clavis Pharma acquired the intellectual property in 2001 in order to commercialize the most promising cancer drug candidates. The intellectual property currently consists of more than 150 internationally granted patents from 5 patent families.
For more information, contact Clavis Pharma:
Tom Pike - Chairman & CEO
(+ 47) 24 11 09 50
tom.pike@clavispharma.com
Ole Henrik Eriksen - President and COO
(+47) 24 11 09 50
ole.henrik.eriksen@clavispharma.com
www.clavispharma.com
About Clavis Pharma
Clavis Pharma develops new and superior pharmaceuticals based on its proprietary Lipid Vector Technology. ELACYTTM, the company's lead product is a novel cytotoxic cancer drug for the potential treatment of solid tumours. ELACYT is an analogue of the well-established cancer drug cytarabine, which is only approved for the treatment of leukaemia. ELACYT has to date shown clinical benefit, defined as partial response or stable disease, in several solid tumour types including malignant melanoma, rectal adenocarcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, broncho-alveolar carcinoma, ovarian, breast and prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma, uterine sarcoma, ethmoidal adenocarcinoma and orbital cancer. Clavis Pharma's second drug candidate, CP-4126, is a Lipid Vector Technology analogue of gemcitabine, a major cancer drug.
Clavis Pharma was established in 2001 in order to develop new and superior pharmaceuticals based on the application of the Lipid Vector Technology. Clavis Pharma's strategy is to demonstrate the efficacy of its drug candidates in humans through clinical studies and then to commercialize them in strategic collaborations with larger pharmaceutical companies.
Additional information on Clavis Pharma and it's portfolio can be found at: www.clavispharma.com
Disclaimer
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forecasts based on uncertainty, since they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and which, by their nature, will have an impact on results of operations and the financial condition of Clavis Pharma. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Theses factors include, among other things, risks associated with technological development, the risk that research & development will not yield new products that achieve commercial success, the impact of competition, the ability to close viable and profitable business deals, the risk of non-approval of patents not yet granted and difficulties of obtaining relevant governmental approvals for new products.
No expressed or implied representations or warranties are given concerning Clavis Pharma or the accuracy or completeness of the information or projections provided herein, and no claims shall be made by the recipient hereof by virtue of this Information Memorandum or the information or projections contained herein. Any representations or warranties made to an investor in Clavis Pharma will be subject to separate sale and purchase agreements to be negotiated between the parties.