( beta and EPO in pre-clinical models th...)Modigene Announces Successful Completion of Pharmacokinetic &,Pharmacodynamic Pre-Clinical Experiments for Proprietary,Long-Acting Human Growth Hormone, Long-acting Interferon Beta and,Long-acting Erythropoietin,Health

"The accomplishment of this milestone was important for Modigene as it continues its long-acting protein programs, and as a key indicator that the CTP platform is universal and could be applicable to a variety of therapeutic proteins and peptides that suffer from weak durability and hence dictate short injection frequencies," said Shai Novik, Modigene's President. "We are moving forward with our preparations for GMP production of our lead protein candidates and initiation of clinical trials thereafter. We have also commenced development of a long-acting version of GLP-1, a therapeutic peptide that is prescribed for diabetes type II patients, and is currently injected twice daily, and will continue to apply the technology to several other key blockbuster therapeutic proteins."

Modigene's technology was discovered by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and is based on a short amino acid sequence, the Carboxyl Terminal Peptide (CTP). CTP occurs naturally in the human body, and when attached to a therapeutic protein, extends the time that such protein can last effectively in the body. This has been demonstrated and validated by Organon -- which, on March 12 2007, announced a deal to be acquired by Schering-Plough for $14.4 billion. Organon also licenses the CTP technology from Washington University, and has attached the CTP to a Follicle- Stimulating Hormone (FSH) -- a hormone with approximately $1 billion in annual sales that is prescribed for females undergoing fertility treatments. Organon is currently in Phase III clinical trials with its FSH-CTP product, which could complete during 2007. Phase II trials demonstrated that a single injection of FSH-CTP was able to provide the same clinical effect as 7 consecutive daily injections of commercial FSH.
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