AACR 100th Annual Meeting Highlights Superior Ability of InNexus' DXL-Modified Anti-CD20 Antibody to Attach and Kill NHL With Sa
April 20 2009 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
-- Key Data are New Releases for the Company Building on Milestones
with Recent FDA Meetings and Technology Discoveries -- DENVER,
April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DXL625 monoclonal antibodies
appear to be superior to commercial-stage antibodies in their
ability to attach and deplete NHL in late stage pre-clinical
studies, according to research conducted at InNexus Biotechnology
Inc. (Toronto Stock Exchange: IXS.V, http://www.ixsbio.com/), a
drug development company commercializing the next generation of
monoclonal antibodies based on its Dynamic Cross Linking (DXL(TM))
technology. The potency was achieved with comparable safety even at
levels one hundred times that required for therapeutic efficacy,
according to several studies presented at the American Association
of Cancer Research (AACR) 100th Annual Meeting this past weekend.
DXL625 is designed to bind CD20, a protein receptor expressed on
normal B cells and over-expressed on cancerous B cells. InNexus has
previously announced that the United States Food and Drug
Administration had completed its comprehensive review of the
development plans for DXL625 (CD20) for the prospective treatment
of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) and/or Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
(CLL). InNexus' submission included detailed information on plans
for a Phase I clinical program, preclinical pharmacology and
toxicology data and its current manufacturing plans. The FDA noted
at the time that the plans were suitable for the manufacture of
Phase I product of DXL625 onsite at InNexus. "The studies are an
important validation of our core drug discovery platform and
confirm our ability to significantly advance the state of the art
in developing potentially superior biologics for major medical and
commercial opportunities," said Jeff Morhet, Chairman and CEO at
InNexus. InNexus and institutional researchers authored two studies
presented during the AACR meeting. These included: -- One study, to
determine whether the superior activity of the modified anti-CD20
human-mouse chimeric antibody exposed unexpected adverse activity
that may not have been seen with the less cytotoxic unmodified
antibody. The study determined that the increased target activity
and cytotoxicity of DXL-modified anti-CD20 does not affect safety
even at doses 100 times that normally required for efficacy. "We
have confirmed that the dose of maximally effective DXL-peptide
conjugated anti-CD20 DXL625 retains the impressive safety
historically seen with therapeutic anti-CD20 antibodies," Dr.
Thomas Kindt, Chief Scientific Officer of InNexus. -- The second
study defined the ability to "program" self-binding properties into
antibodies. These "self-binding" interactions were seen to
effectively increase the binding strength between the antibody and
the target antigen, as determined repeatedly by measurable kinetic
changes. InNexus' AACR presentations are titled, "A Novel High
Avidity Anti-CD20 With Markedly Increased Cytotoxicity Shows No
Systemic Toxicity In The Cynomolgus Monkey At A Dose 100-Fold Above
The Anticipated Therapeutic Dose", (AACR# 1231) and "Oxidative
Modification Of An Anti-CD20 Antibody Imparts Autophilic Binding
Kinetics", (AACR# 1230). Posters and company representatives will
also be available within the AACR Antibody and Antibody Targets
Session from 1:00-5:00 PM on April 19th in Hall B-F, Poster Section
12. The posters will also be available via the InNexus website
beginning April 19th. About InNexus InNexus is a drug development
company commercializing the next generation of monoclonal
antibodies based on its DXL technology, which improves the potency
of existing antibody products while opening new markets and disease
applications. DXL antibodies utilize unique, novel and patented
methods and technologies of InNexus. InNexus is headquartered in
British Columbia with principal management based in Scottsdale,
Arizona on the campus of Mayo Clinic and has its own in-house
developmental facilities. These development resources provide
validation of protein and peptide discoveries, enabling InNexus
(and its strategic partners) to advance novel drug therapeutics and
diagnostics. To learn more about InNexus, please visit
http://www.ixsbio.com/. The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed
and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this news release. This news release may contain assumptions,
estimates, and other forward-looking statements that involve
inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many
of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause actual
results or performance to differ materially from those currently
anticipated in such statements. DATASOURCE: InNexus Biotechnology
Inc. CONTACT: Jeff Morhet, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer,
or Dr. Thomas Kindt, Chief Scientific Officer, +1-480-862-7500,
both of InNexus Biotechnology Inc. Web Site: http://www.ixsbio.com/
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