December 10, 2003

By: Sara Collin
Website: http://www.1st-in-vitamins.com

Complexine technology licensed for vitamin-based cancer therapeutics

SangStat and Endocyte Inc. announced today that they have signed an agreement that grants Endocyte a nonexclusive, worldwide license to commercialize vitamin-based treatments using SangStat's complexine technology. The agreement also allows Endocyte the right to sub-license the technology. Financial terms include license fees and royalties on sales.

By combining targeting and immunostimulatory (effector) moieties, the complexine technology is designed to direct an immune response to a specific site, such as a solid tumor, to neutralize or interfere with its growth.

Endocyte presently focuses on the use of the vitamin folate in both the early diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of cancer. With access to SangStat's complexine technology, Endocyte intends to pursue development and commercialization of its folate-targeting cancer therapeutics. Endocyte is currently in phase I and II clinical trials with in vivo, solid tumor diagnostics that use folate-targeting of radioactive labels in identifying ovarian cancers. The folate receptor is selectively expressed in over 90 percent of ovarian cancers, and low survival in ovarian cancer patients is, to a large degree, due to late or otherwise poor diagnosis.

"SangStat is delighted to see its complexine technology applied in the field of oncology, where it has potential for therapeutic application" said Jean-Jacques Bienaimé, president and CEO of SangStat. "Similar licenses are now available from SangStat to other companies that have complementary technologies and desire to access the complexine technology to develop and market new therapeutics. SangStat also intends to pursue joint development opportunities with relevant companies," he continued.

"We are excited about the potential of combining SangStat technology with ours to provide more effective cancer treatment" said president and CEO of Endocyte, P. Ron Ellis. "Our preclinical data with this combination technology is very encouraging. Having this partnership with SangStat, we will accelerate our efforts to begin human clinical trials in 2002 using this technology."

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About The Author:

Sara Collin is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-vitamins.com.  Recommending the best vitamins, minerals, herbs and weight loss products for optimum health.