Presentation at the Internati

RNS Number : 2912O

Immupharma PLC

28 June 2010

 



For Immediate Release

28 June 2010

ImmuPharma PLC

LUPUS 2010 CONGRESS

Announces presentation of the

Lupuzor^TM phase IIb trial at the 9th International Congress on

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Vancouver

ImmuPharma PLC (LSE:IMM), ("ImmuPharma" or the "Company"), the specialist drug discovery and development company announces that a presentation was held of ImmuPharma's Phase IIb clinical trial of Lupuzor^TM (Rigerimod) at the 9th International Congress on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Vancouver, Canada, on 26^th June.

Details of the presentation

The presentation was titled "A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of spliceosomal peptide rigerimod in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)". The presentation was given by a senior medical director from Cephalon on Saturday 26^th June.  Cephalon plans to submit the findings from this presentation for publication in a scientific journal.

ImmuPharma first announced data from the Phase IIb trial in December 2009.

As announced last week, Cephalon Inc., ImmuPharma's license partner for Lupuzor^TM (Rigerimod) has started the recruitment of lupus patients for a Phase IIb trial in the US. This study has been designed to allow US based investigators and the FDA to evaluate Lupuzor^TM (Rigerimod) as a treatment for lupus before commencing a Phase III clinical trial.

Dimitri Dimitriou, Chief Executive Officer of ImmuPharma said: "We are delighted that our Phase IIb data has been presented at such a high level international conference such as Lupus 2010 and demonstrates Cephalon's continued commitment to Lupuzor^TM.

- Ends -

For further information please contact:

ImmuPharma PLC:
Dimitri Dimitriou, Chief Executive Officer	[phone]
Dr Robert Zimmer, President & Chief Scientific Officer	+ 33 389 32 76 50
Richard Warr, Chairman	[phone]
Buchanan Communications	+ 44 20 7466 5000
Lisa Baderoon
Catherine Breen
George Prassas

Panmure Gordon & Co	+ 44 20 7459 3600
Andrew Burnett
Rakesh Sharma
Execution Noble
James Bromhead	+ 44 20 7456 9191
Richard Crawley

Notes to Editors:

About ImmuPharma

ImmuPharma PLC is a drug discovery and development company headquartered in London, UK and quoted on AIM of the London Stock Exchange (LSE:IMM). It has research operations in France (ImmuPharma (France) SA) and Switzerland (ImmuPharma AG). ImmuPharma is dedicated to the development of novel drugs, largely based on peptide therapeutics, to treat serious medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases characterised by:

·           blockbuster potential in niche markets

·           low promotional costs in few specialised physicians and centres and

·           lower risk of drug development and lower development costs

ImmuPharma is a currently developing drug candidates for three different medical conditions, each of which would represent a significant breakthrough in its field. The furthest advanced drug candidate targets Lupus, a disease for which there is currently no cure or specific treatment. The other two address moderate to severe pain (such as that experienced by cancer sufferers and post-operative patients), and MRSA and similar severe hospital-acquired resistant infections.

All three have significant sales potential as well as low marketing costs and a relatively low risk of development failure. One or more have the potential to be fast-tracked by the US Food and Drug Administration according to "Guidance for Industry: Fast Track Drug Development Programs - Designation, Development and Application Review" issued July 2004 and could therefore obtain their market authorization by 2010.

Key to the potential success of ImmuPharma is its unique collaborative agreement with Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France's scientific research institution. This agreement grants ImmuPharma worldwide exclusive rights to exploit certain key discoveries.

In addition to its three leading drug candidates, ImmuPharma has a drug development pipeline using its rights to a virtual chemical library of hundreds of thousands of molecules as well as an innovative technology for converting peptides to drug candidates.

ImmuPharma has the option to commercialise its assets itself or to license them to other pharmaceutical companies at an earlier stage.

The products

Treatment of Lupus (IPP-201101)

This is a long-term treatment for Lupus, a chronic, life-threatening autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks healthy cells. There is currently no cure and existing medications only treat the symptoms whereas ImmuPharma's drug candidate has the potential to produce remission of the disease in a substantial proportion of patients.

Based on independent forecasts, the value of ImmuPharma's Lupus drug is estimated to be "substantial" with peak annual sales forecast to generate in excess of $4 billion.

Severe pain relief (IPP-102199)

ImmuPharma is developing a potential non-addictive compound for relieving moderate to severe pain, such as experienced by cancer sufferers and post-surgical patients. Most existing treatments are derived from the opiate morphine and tend to have serious side effects. ImmuPharma's new treatment is based on met-enkephalin, the body's internal analgesic. IPP-102199 is being developed to have major advantages over morphine such as longer pain relief duration and reduced side effects. The market for chronic opioids in the US currently exceeds $3.5 billion and is growing by more than 10 to 20 per cent a year.

Antibiotic for MRSA and similar highly resistant infections (IPP-203101)

This is a novel antibiotic to combat MRSA and other severe hospital-acquired, resistant infections which affect some two million people in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ImmuPharma's drug candidate is targeted at disrupting the membrane potential of the bacterial pathogens. It is hoped this novel approach will reduce their potential to become resistant.

About Lupus 2010 : 9^th International Congress on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada June 24 - 27, 2010

LUPUS 2010 will assemble the next generation's leaders in SLE, reduce the barriers between lay and professional, between different disciplines, and between different cultures, so that the community can close the gap between what we know, what we do, and what we could do worldwide in SLE therapeutics, medical and public education, clinical and basic research.

Lupus 2010 will be the ninth international meeting of patients with lupus, their families, health care providers, and the scientists dedicated to finding the cause, prevention and cure of SLE. Being held in Vancouver, British Columbia in the year of the 20th Winter Olympics, LUPUS 2010 will occur in one of the most promising and challenging times in the history of this disease.

Remarkable scientific progress in lupus research and the tireless efforts of many in the private arena have led to new and increased public awareness and financial support for lupus research. It is notable that during this period of time, the development of many novel agents has brought hope to those living with lupus. Moreover, a generation of outstanding young scientists have been trained and have dedicated their professional lives to understanding lupus and developing new treatments during this unparalleled period of discovery in the genetic and molecular basis of the disease.

This remarkable opportunity, however, occurs at a time when the world economic downturn threatens the creativity and risk taking so necessary for further discovery and the financing of the research, medical education, and the delivery of both established and newly discovered therapies that are essential for improving the lives of persons with lupus. So LUPUS 2010 occurs at a time of real crisis in lupus research and care, a time when the opportunities have never been greater, but the perils are also formidable. The goals of LUPUS 2010 are therefore to emphasize the opportunities while contributing to the efforts to diminish the risks to further progress in lupus research, education and care.

The strategy of LUPUS 2010, is to emulate the potlatch of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, whose cedar long houses became centers for the potlatch tradition where participants were hosted and housed. Potlatch meaning "to give away" or "gift" were convocations that were carefully planned to commemorate significant events in the collective life of an extended family or clan. Participants brought gifts and all received gifts. Lupus 2010 will be a meeting of the extended family of lupus researchers, clinicians, educators and persons with lupus that will be carefully planned to optimize the exchange of knowledge and understanding. Participants will bring gifts of their personal knowledge and understanding and will exchange these gifts with all participants. Together, the group will develop a consensus document indicating the state of the field and the challenges for the future. It is anticipated that the 2010 Potlatch of the lupus clan will reward and enrich all participants and point the way toward future developments.

LUPUS 2010, unlike any of the meetings that persons interested in lupus might attend or have attended will be distinguished by the active input of all participants and sponsors, its emphasis on the next generation, intimate venues designed to be interactive and to break down barriers of language, discipline, status, and focus on the overall goal of working together to advance the field. Plenary sessions will have broad appeal and delivered in a manner to be informative to the expert, but also completely comprehensible to the novice.

LUPUS 2010 will:
1.     Review comprehensively the state of the science and the state of the art in SLE
2.     Identify future opportunities in lupus research, education and care
3.     Identify, assemble, and facilitate the next generation of leaders and provide an opportunity for mentoring with  the current 
       leaders in SLE
4.     Reduce the cognitive, communication, and conceptual barriers between persons with  lupus, health care   providers and 
       clinical and basic researchers from different disciplines, and different cultures
5.     Close the gap between what we know, what we do and what we could do worldwide in SLE therapeutis, medical  and 
        public education, clinical and fundamental research

http://www.lupus2010.com/scientific.html

 

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