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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Therion Biologics and Aventis Pasteur
Expand Cancer Vaccine Alliance
Clinical Results Move
Colorectal Cancer Products
Forward
Cambridge, MA, and Toronto, Ontario, October 26,
2000 - Building on a successful alliance for the
advancement of therapeutic cancer vaccines, Therion
Biologics Corporation and Aventis Pasteur Limited
have agreed to expand the length and scope of their
existing collaboration. The amendment permits the
study of additional tumor-associated antigens for
use in pox virus-based vaccines for the treatment
of melanoma, colorectal and lung cancers. These
products, which Therion has licensed to Aventis
Pasteur, have already demonstrated in early
clinical trials the ability to stimulate the body's
natural immune response to selectively fight and
destroy tumors.
The collaboration's lead product, ALVAC-CEA/B7.1,
is a vaccine for the treatment of colorectal
cancer. Based on promising initial clinical
results, Aventis Pasteur plans to conduct a pivotal
large-scale trial of this product in conjunction
with standard chemotherapy. ALVAC-CEA/B7.1 is the
vaccine Aventis Pasteur and Therion expect to enter
Phase III trials in the next two years.
"Based on early immunologic and clinical results
indicating disease stabilization in metastatic
patients treated with ALVAC-CEA/B7.1, we believe
that this and similar immunotherapeutic products
will provide an important weapon in the fight
against many cancers," said Pierre Meulien, Senior
Vice President of Research and Development at
Aventis Pasteur Limited. "Aventis Pasteur is
committed to advancing the clinical development of
this cancer vaccine. By broadening our successful
collaboration with Therion, we enhance our
licensing opportunities with what we believe is
already one of the strongest approaches in cancer
therapy today."
Terms of the Agreement
Aventis Pasteur, a world leader in the
development and manufacture of vaccines, and
Therion Biologics, a leading biotechnology company
developing therapeutic vaccines for cancer,
established their original collaboration in January
1998. Under terms of the expanded agreement,
Therion receives from Aventis Pasteur new license
payments, as well as additional milestone fees
contingent on product development. Therion will
also receive future royalties on sales of any
resulting products.
In return, Aventis Pasteur acquires a worldwide
sublicense to Therion's rights to NY-ESO-1, a tumor
associated antigen discovered by the Ludwig
Institute for Cancer Research, for use in pox
virus-based vaccines designed to treat colorectal
cancer, lung cancer and melanoma. Aventis Pasteur
also acquires the right to use other
tumor-associated antigens relevant to these
diseases in combination with antigens acquired from
Therion, and will conduct advanced clinical trials
and commercialize resulting products.
"The extension of our existing collaboration speaks
to the successful relationship between Therion and
Aventis Pasteur over the past two-plus years," said
Dennis Panicali, Ph.D., President and Chief
Executive Officer of Therion Biologics Corporation.
"While the plan to advance our colorectal cancer
product into pivotal trials is very exciting,
expansion of this agreement also strengthens
Therion's deep pipeline of cancer vaccines. In
addition, the alliance provides us with increased
access to a leading commercialization partner
worldwide."
Therion Biologics Corporation is engaged in the
development of therapeutic vaccines for cancer and
preventive vaccines for AIDS. Currently, Therion
has two lead products for colorectal and prostate
cancer, ALVAC-CEA/B7.1 and PROSTVAC-VF
respectively, moving into pivotal clinical trials
in the next two years. The company also has a
broad pipeline of vaccines in early clinical
development for treatment of major cancers,
including breast cancer, lung cancer, melanoma and
other solid tumors. Therion's partners include
Aventis Pasteur, the National Cancer Institute and
a network of leading clinical institutions around
the world. Therion is headquartered in Cambridge,
Massachusetts.
Aventis Pasteur, a world leader in vaccines with
the broadest range of products, produces more than
one billion doses of vaccines every year to
immunize 400 million people around the world.
Aventis Pasteur, headquartered in Lyon, France is
one of the pharmaceutical activities of Aventis SA.
Aventis Pasteur operated under the Pasteur
Mérieux Connaught name until the creation of
Aventis in 1999.
Aventis SA (NYSE: AVE) is a world leader in life
sciences. Focused on two core business areas-
pharmaceuticals and agriculture- Aventis is
dedicated to improving life through the discovery
and development of innovative products in the
fields of prescription drugs, vaccines, therapeutic
proteins, crop production and protection, animal
health and nutrition.
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Contacts:
Dennis L. Panicali, Ph.D.
President and CEO
Therion Biologics Corporation
(617) 876-7779
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Sharon Karlsberg or
Wendy Soutsos
Feinstein Kean Healthcare Inc
(617) 577-8110
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Nancy Simpson
Manager, External Communications
Aventis Pasteur
(416) 667-2955
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