Nautilus Moves its Next-Generation Long-Lasting Interferon
18.07.2005 / 09:06 / Rubriek: Informatief / Organisatie: Nautilus biotech
Nautilus Biotech Moves its Next-Generation Long-Lasting Interferon Beta Into Regulatory Preclinical Development
PARIS, France, July 18/PRNewswire/ --
Nautilus Biotech, a protein pharmaceutical company, announced today that it has successfully completed animal studies on a number of proprietary IFN-beta variants, engineered to have a substantially improved pharmacological profile. The variants have significantly increased half-life in serum as well as improved bioavailability. Nautilus will now move its improved IFN-beta into pre-clinical development and plans for an IND filing by late 2006.
The novel IFN-beta molecules were developed using Nautilus' proprietary technology for protein improvement. Each variant carries either one or two single amino acid replacements, specifically designed for higher resistance to proteolysis. All the novel IFN-beta molecules elicit levels of biological activity in vitro equivalent or superior to the native IFN-beta.
They have substantially increased resistance to proteolysis and highly improved pharmacokinetics profiles in mice following intravenous and subcutaneous injections, with significantly enhanced half-life in serum and bioavailability.
'A longer half-life in serum, leading to lower frequency of administration and higher patient compliance, is a key feature for any next-generation IFN-beta that will be competitive in the $3bn, post-Tysabri(R) Multiple Sclerosis market. Nautilus' IFN-beta, with a highly improved pharmacokinetics profile and a minimal change in its molecular structure, is an ideal next-generation product candidate', said Nautilus CEO Manuel Vega.
Nautilus' IFN-beta has been designed to be highly resistant to blood, intestinal, pulmonary and nasal proteases. In particular, Nautilus' IFN-beta is highly resistant to B-gelatinase, a protease that cleaves IFN-beta in vivo and which is probably involved in its clearance and immunogenicity.
'Nautilus has once again demonstrated that it can rapidly design novel therapeutic proteins that have improved profiles both in vitro and in vivo. Moving IFN-beta towards an IND in 2006 is an important step in our strategy of becoming an integrated drug discovery and development company', said Nautilus VP Strategy, Paul Martin.
About Nautilus Biotech
Using its proprietary technologies, Nautilus is strongly focused to improving human protein pharmaceuticals. Nautilus most advanced product is BELEROFON(R), a long-lasting in serum, non-pegylated, high specific activity IFN-alpha for the treatment of HepC infection. BELEROFON(R) is at the pre-IND stage and pre-clinical safety studies are ongoing. Nautilus has created a portfolio of next-generation therapeutic proteins with improved profiles, it is aggressively establishing a strong intellectual property position covering enhanced versions of these multibillion dollars molecules and is rapidly moving these products towards clinical phases.
Additional information concerning Nautilus Biotech can be obtained from either www.nautilusbiotech.com or by e-mail: contact@nautilusbiotech.com
Contact: Manuel Vega, CEO, Nautilus Biotech, mvega@nautilusbiotech.com tel : +33-(0)1-60-87-54-60
Source: Nautilus Biotech
Contact: Manuel Vega, CEO, Nautilus Biotech, mvega@nautilusbiotech.com tel : +33-(0)1-60-87-54-60