FARMINGDALE, NY, June 9, 2005 – Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE:ENZ), announced today that it had acquired the rights and intellectual property to a candidate drug and technology intended for use in the treatment of uveitis, a chronic inflammation of the eye that can lead to blindness. Enzo is currently planning a trial design to further evaluate the drug.
Posterior uveitis, which results from inflammation of a part of the eye known as the uvea, is believed to result from an immune reaction against some of the antigens in the eye, specifically the S antigen protein (Sag) and the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). There is no known cure for uveitis, which in the United States, according to the American Uveitis Society, is diagnosed in approximately 38,000 people every year. While there are steps that can be taken to preserve sight and slow the progress of vision loss, individuals with uveitis are also at increased risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma or retinal detachment.
The product is the result of a discovery by Stephan Thurau, M.D., and Gerhild Wildner, Ph.D., who work at the eye clinic at the prestigious Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, Germany, and who discovered a small peptide that when fed to rats with experimental allergic uveitis promoted their recovery. Based on favorable preclinical studies, the developers conducted a small Phase I clinical trial in Germany utilizing the patented molecule with encouraging results that indicated a number of the patients treated with the study drug showed a decrease in inflammation and a few showed improved visual acuity.
Enzo is currently composing a protocol to initiate the next phase of clinical trials that will be submitted to the central regulatory agencies in Germany. The candidate drug has orphan status in Europe.
“The study drug for treating uveitis developed by Drs. Thurau and Wildner, is closely allied to the work Enzo Therapeutics has done in the general area of immune regulation, and thus holds great interest for us,” said Dean Engelhardt, Executive Vice President of Enzo. “Much work remains to be done, but we are encouraged by the preliminary data we have seen and are proceeding with plans for instituting further clinical study to determine its effectiveness.”
About Enzo
Enzo Biochem is engaged in the research, development and manufacture of innovative health care products based on molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques, and in providing diagnostic services to the medical community. The Company’s proprietary labeling and detection products for gene sequencing and genetic analysis are sold to the life sciences market throughout the world. The Company’s therapeutic division is in various stages of clinical evaluation of its proprietary gene medicine for HIV-1 infection and its proprietary immune regulation medicines for hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection and for Crohn’s disease. Pre-clinical research is being conducted on several candidate compounds aimed at producing new mineral and organic bone, including technology that could provide therapy for osteoporosis and fractures, among other applications. The Company also holds a patent covering a method and materials for correcting point mutations or small insertions or deletions of genetic material that would allow for editing and correcting certain abnormalities in genes. The Company owns or licenses over 230 patents worldwide. For more information visit our website www.enzo.com.
Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this news release may be considered ”forward‑looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include declarations regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. Investors are cautioned that any such forward‑looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results. The Company disclaims any obligations to update any forward-looking statement as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.
Posterior uveitis, which results from inflammation of a part of the eye known as the uvea, is believed to result from an immune reaction against some of the antigens in the eye, specifically the S antigen protein (Sag) and the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). There is no known cure for uveitis, which in the United States, according to the American Uveitis Society, is diagnosed in approximately 38,000 people every year. While there are steps that can be taken to preserve sight and slow the progress of vision loss, individuals with uveitis are also at increased risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma or retinal detachment.
The product is the result of a discovery by Stephan Thurau, M.D., and Gerhild Wildner, Ph.D., who work at the eye clinic at the prestigious Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, Germany, and who discovered a small peptide that when fed to rats with experimental allergic uveitis promoted their recovery. Based on favorable preclinical studies, the developers conducted a small Phase I clinical trial in Germany utilizing the patented molecule with encouraging results that indicated a number of the patients treated with the study drug showed a decrease in inflammation and a few showed improved visual acuity.
Enzo is currently composing a protocol to initiate the next phase of clinical trials that will be submitted to the central regulatory agencies in Germany. The candidate drug has orphan status in Europe.
“The study drug for treating uveitis developed by Drs. Thurau and Wildner, is closely allied to the work Enzo Therapeutics has done in the general area of immune regulation, and thus holds great interest for us,” said Dean Engelhardt, Executive Vice President of Enzo. “Much work remains to be done, but we are encouraged by the preliminary data we have seen and are proceeding with plans for instituting further clinical study to determine its effectiveness.”
About Enzo
Enzo Biochem is engaged in the research, development and manufacture of innovative health care products based on molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques, and in providing diagnostic services to the medical community. The Company’s proprietary labeling and detection products for gene sequencing and genetic analysis are sold to the life sciences market throughout the world. The Company’s therapeutic division is in various stages of clinical evaluation of its proprietary gene medicine for HIV-1 infection and its proprietary immune regulation medicines for hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection and for Crohn’s disease. Pre-clinical research is being conducted on several candidate compounds aimed at producing new mineral and organic bone, including technology that could provide therapy for osteoporosis and fractures, among other applications. The Company also holds a patent covering a method and materials for correcting point mutations or small insertions or deletions of genetic material that would allow for editing and correcting certain abnormalities in genes. The Company owns or licenses over 230 patents worldwide. For more information visit our website www.enzo.com.
Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this news release may be considered ”forward‑looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include declarations regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. Investors are cautioned that any such forward‑looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results. The Company disclaims any obligations to update any forward-looking statement as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.