Tolerx Announces Achievement of Milestones upon anti-CD4 Antibody Program Advancement and Initiation of Phase 1 Clin...( CAMBRIDGE Mass. Aug. 5 /- Tolerx ...),Health

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Tolerx, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel therapies for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases, announced today that Genentech, a collaborator, has moved a modified version of TRX1, MTRX1011A, an anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody, into a phase 1 clinical trial that has begun enrolling patients. The clinical trial is evaluating the safety and tolerability of both single and multiple doses of MTRX1011A. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement between Tolerx and Genentech, Tolerx realized milestones in the first quarter of this year upon selection of the antibody for further development within Genentech's clinical pipeline and upon IND filing. The initiation of the Phase 1 clinical trial resulted in the realization of an additional milestone by Tolerx.

Dr. Douglas J. Ringler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tolerx, commented, "We are extremely pleased that our collaboration with Genentech has resulted in the continued advancement of the program, and we look forward to continued progress."

Tolerx and Genentech entered into a collaboration in 2002 to develop and commercialize anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies. Pursuant to this arrangement, Genentech has the right in all indications to develop, manufacture and commercialize such anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies. Tolerx will receive additional milestone payments upon further successful development by Genentech of the anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies in autoimmune or other indications. Tolerx may receive royalties on worldwide net sales of the anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies that Genentech successfully develops. In lieu of receiving royalties on product sales in the United States, Tolerx has the option to participate in a loss and profit sharing arrangement with Genentech.

About MTRX1011A

MTRX1011A (a modified version of TRX1) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to and down modulates
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