MENTRIK Biotech, LLC Acquires Fully Humanized Anti-CD20 Antibody(AME133) from Eli Lilly & CO

Jan. 26, 2011 - PRLog -- MENTRIK Biotech, LLC Acquires Fc Engineered, High Affinity, Fully Humanized Anti-CD20 Antibody (AME133) from Eli Lilly and Company

DALLAS, TX – January 26, 2011 – MENTRIK Biotech, LLC is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of AME-133 (LY2469298), an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody under development for cancer treatment of B-cell non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other indications. AME-133 is an intravenously administered, fully humanized, fc engineered, high-affinity immunoglobulin G subclass (IgG1) monoclonal antibody for which Phase I clinical development has been completed. The CD20 antigen is a validated target for the treatment of patients with B-cell cancers like lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and for auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rituximab (Rituxan®), a first-generation human-mouse chimeric antibody has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and rheumatoid arthritis. AME-133 is a fully humanized antibody and has been optimized through protein engineering both for increased affinity for CD20 and increased effector function in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), which may lead to superior efficacy and safety.

A Phase I/II clinical trial with AME-133 for the treatment of patients with previously treated follicular lymphoma has been completed. Sixty-seven patients were treated with AME-133 in this trial. The results showed that AME- 133 is well tolerated and 375mg/m2 was confirmed as the recommended dose for future trials. “We are very excited about this acquisition. The clinical results to date suggest that AME-133 has the potential to improve therapeutic options for patients with follicular lymphomas,” says Dr. Vinay Jain, CEO of MENTRIK Biotech.

MENTRIK acquired full rights to develop AME-133 for all human therapeutic, prophylactic, and diagnostic uses. The company intends to continue the development of AME-133 for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas such as non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, Mantle cell lymphoma, and also chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In addition, MENTRIK will also investigate the potential clinical benefit of AME-133 for the treatment of auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

About MENTRIK Biotech,LLC:
MENTRIK Biotech, located in Dallas, Texas, is a newly-formed oncology-based drug development company. MENTRIK is committed to the development of promising cancer drugs such as LY2469298 in order to increase the number of treatment options for cancers with significant unmet therapeutic needs and make treatments available to a broader segment of the population. For more information about MENTRIK Biotech, please visit us at www.mentrik.com or contact us by email at info@mentrik.com or by phone at 214 593.5000.

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About MENTRIK Biotech,LLC:
MENTRIK Biotech, located in Dallas, Texas, is a newly-formed oncology-based drug development company. MENTRIK is committed to the development of promising cancer drugs such as LY2469298 in order to increase the number of treatment options for cancers with significant unmet therapeutic needs and make treatments available to a broader segment of the population. For more information about MENTRIK Biotech, please visit us at www.mentrik.com or contact us by email at info@mentrik.com or by phone at 214 593.5000.