Brussels, December 13th 2004 – Henogen S.A. announced today that it has acquired ImmunoToko B.V., a spin-off company of the University Medical Center St Radboud (Nijmegen, The Netherlands).
ImmunoToko developed an immunotoxin combination (IT combination) that selectively eliminates T-cells while ignoring normal bystander cells.
"This transaction perfectly fits in with Henogen's long term strategy to establish its own line of biopharmaceutical products in the transplantation area”, says Henogen’s CEO Dr. Alex Bollen.
"Considering the growing importance of antibody therapeutics, we clearly see the opportunity that ImmunoToko's people and know-how will support our ongoing efforts to develop new and innovative biotherapeutics for unmet medical needs".
“We are excited about having the opportunity to combine ImmunoToko’s assets and expertise with Henogen’s excellent resources and experience in cGMP-manufacturing and early stage clinical development” says General Manager of ImmunoToko, Dr. Ypke van Oosterhout.
Based on the results of a clinical pilot-study conducted at UMC St Radboud, the IT combination has the potential to become a new and superior drug for helping control transplant-related rejection and various autoimmune diseases.
Thanks to its cGMP facilities and expertise in the post-transplantation diseases area, Henogen plans to further develop the IT combination towards registration.
About Henogen S.A.
Henogen is a biotech company addressing biomanufacturing issues under the general umbrella “from gene to clinical product”. This company has extensive knowledge in performing and/or accompanying partners through the R&D, process development, cGMP production and phase I to III clinical trials. Among the products previously developed and produced are recombinant proteins, gene therapy viral vectors, vaccines and monoclonal antibodies.
About ImmunoToko B.V.
Immunotoko has been founded in 1998 as a spin-off of the Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen (UMC St Radboud). The company has been established to further the development and commercialization of an antibody-based drug, know as the IT-combination, for treating certain immunological diseases.
This IT-combination, originating from the Central Hematology Laboratory of the UMC St Radboud, has been clinically evaluated for treating patients with life-threatening graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a feared complication of blood stem cell transplantation (formerly indicated as bone marrow transplantation). The results of this study are very encouraging and warrant the further development of the IT-combination for GVHD, and, potentially, other immunological diseases like solid organ-rejection and selected autoimmune diseases.
The requirements for such development, asking for large-scale GMP-production and the performance of multi-center clinical studies, forced Immunotoko to search for a strategic partner. As a result, November 2004 Immunotoko has been acquired by Henogen, which could thereby broaden its portfolio of proprietary transplant-related products. Henogen is now taking care of the GMP-production of clinical grade material, and the funding of the clinical studies. Immunotoko, being the Dutch daughter company of Henogen, is in charge of the design and performance of the clinical development. In this respect, Immunotoko will greatly benefit from its strong collaboration with the UMC St Radboud and the built-up network in the transplant community.
Immunotoko is based on the campus of the Radboud University Nijmegen (The Netherlands), and is headed by its co-founder and inventor of the IT-combination, dr. Ypke VVJM van Oosterhout (1964).
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Further information:
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Dr Ypke van Oosterhout, General Manager ImmunoToko B.V. Tel. +31 24 3240 334 Fax. +31 24 3542 080 y.vanoosterhout@chl.umcn.nl |
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Dr Alex Bollen, CEO Henogen S.A. Tel. +32 71 347 901 Fax. +32 71 347 973 Starting on 18th Septembre 2006 !!! alex.bollen@henogen.com |