Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - November 18, 1999
"A key issue in the large-scale production of rmCRP has been resolved, allowing Immtech to quickly and efficiently purify large amounts of the protein suitable for human clinical trials," said Dr. Lawrence A. Potempa, Immtech Vice President of Research. "Integral to the development of any therapeutic agent is reliable, reproducible, cost effective production of the drug substance. Our unique insight into this protein's physical and chemical properties has enabled us to devise a unique down-stream processing method that allows us to produce unlimited amounts of rmCRP protein in a very cost effective way. The ability to produce large amounts of rmCRP at an effective cost level is very important because many companies with promising biological products often cannot progress to have large scale production processes."
Immtech's data indicates that rmCRP therapy, like angiogenesis inhibitor therapy, targets blood vessels. Unlike angiogenesis inhibitors, which block the growth of new vessels, rmCRP works to strengthen existing normal tissues. Immtech's biological therapeutics program is uniquely focused on strengthening the human body's most basic immune system defenses, helping the body reestablish effective tissue barriers to the entry and spread of disease throughout the body. Strengthened tissues also allow the body's intrinsic immune system to more effectively and efficiently combat disease.
Just as a body's outer skin is an effective barrier to the entry of pathogenic substances into the body, the body's inner "skin" of blood vessels must effectively control and regulate the entry of substances into deep tissues. Immtech's clinical program will focus on establishing this unique activity of its proprietary molecule. As rmCRP therapy is targeted at strengthening normal tissues rather than killing specific cancer cells, it has potential utility against many different types of cancers.
The Company also announced today that it has moved into its new headquarters offices. The new site has approximately 10,000 square feet, of which 4,000 square feet is a laboratory designed for protein purification and other research and development work.
Immtech International Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and commercialization of therapeutics for the treatment of fungal and other infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, and diarrhea; and it is also developing products to treat cancer and HIV. The Company has two independent programs for developing drugs. The first is based on a technology for the discovery of novel pharmaceutical compounds known as dications. Immtech's dications work by binding to the structure of the DNA of infectious organisms and can be used to inhibit the growth of a wide variety of infectious organisms, which cause fungal, parasitic, protozoan, bacterial and viral diseases. The second is based on biological proteins that work in conjunction with the body's immune system. These biological proteins are derivatives of C-Reactive Protein ("CRP"), which occurs naturally in the body and which the Company believes can be used to control the structural environment around cancerous tumors.
"Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements which express the beliefs and expectations of management. Such statements are based on current expectations and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation, the difficulty of predicting FDA and other regulatory authority approvals, the regulatory environment and changes in the health policies of various countries, acceptance and demand for new pharmaceutical products and new therapies, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the availability and pricing of ingredients used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, uncertainties regarding market acceptance of innovative products newly launched, currently being sold or in development, the impact of restructuring of clients, reliance on strategic alliances, fluctuations in currency, exchange and interest rates, operating results and other factors that are discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements within this release, any oral statements made by representatives of the Company, and Forms 10-Q and 10-K are identified by words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may" and other similar expressions. However, these words are not exclusive means of identifying such statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances occurring subsequent to this news release or otherwise to revise or update any oral or written forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time on behalf of the Company. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by the Company in its filings with the SEC, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 1999 and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1999, that attempt to advise interested parties of certain risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect the Company's business.
SOURCE Immtech International, Inc.
CONTACT: Cecilia Chan, VP Business Development of Immtech International, 212-791-2911; Investor: Rich Schineller, Jill Meleski, or Press: Gregory Tiberend, all of Morgen-Walke Associates, 212-850-5600, for Immtech International/
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