BREDA, the Netherlands, January 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

New Discovery Program Initiated Within 12 Months Of Collaboration Start

arGEN-X, a biopharmaceutical company specialized in the discovery and development of highly differentiated human monoclonal antibody products, is broadening its therapeutic antibody collaboration with Shire. Initiated in March 2012, the existing alliance is focused on arGEN-X using its SIMPLE Antibody™ discovery platform to create novel human antibody therapeutics addressing diverse rare and unmet diseases being pursued by Shire.

Building upon the success of the partnership to date, the companies have now instigated an additional discovery program, addressing a new and exciting therapeutic opportunity. arGEN-X continues to be responsible for all antibody discovery and certain preclinical activities, while Shire will conduct all disease-relevant preclinical work, as well as clinical and commercial development of therapeutic antibody products. arGEN-X receives research funding and success-based payments, as well as milestones and royalties on products developed under the collaboration.    

Commenting on today's announcement, Tim Van Hauwermeiren, CEO of arGEN-X, said:

"We are pleased to expand our partnership with Shire based on our consistent delivery of therapeutic quality antibodies against challenging Shire targets. Our SIMPLE Antibody™ platform has the unique ability to blanket disease targets with functional antibodies and generate differentiated drug candidates with phenomenal productivity. We are delighted that Shire recognizes these qualities and has chosen to broaden our collaboration so soon after starting to work together".

"Our collaboration with arGEN-X is an excellent strategic fit with the work that Shire is already doing on behalf of patients with rare diseases" said Dr. Philip J. Vickers, Global Head of Research and Development, Shire Human Genetic Therapies. "Working with arGEN-X provides Shire with access to this unique antibody platform that expands our therapeutic options to treat patients with rare diseases and we are pleased to expand this program so early in our collaboration."

About arGEN-X - http://www.arGEN-X.com

arGEN-X is a preclinical stage biopharmaceutical company that is rapidly leveraging the power of its broadly applicable, proprietary SIMPLE Antibody™ platform to generate fully human antibodies with differentiated qualities and outstanding therapeutic potential. The platform excels in delivering large panels of ultra-potent, functionally diverse antibodies against complex disease targets, especially cell surface receptors and highly conserved proteins.

The superior choice that arGEN-X brings to antibody discovery enables it to prioritise leads with best-in-class therapeutic properties, thereby increasing the probability of development success. Antibody leads generated from the SIMPLE Antibody™ platform have outstanding physicochemical properties and consistent manufacturability, enabling a seamless transition from discovery into development. arGEN-X has validated its technology on multiple diverse classes of target to date and has successfully delivered in its collaboration with Eli Lilly & Co.

Early in 2012, arGEN-X announced a strategic alliance with Shire, focused on the discovery and development of monoclonal antibody therapeutics to treat rare diseases. In October 2012, arGEN-X granted a worldwide exclusive license to RuiYi (formerly Anaphore) to develop and commercialize ARGX-109, a novel anti-IL-6 SIMPLE Antibody™ discovered and developed by arGEN-X.

In March 2012, arGEN-X obtained an exclusive global license to technology known as NHance™, to optimize the pharmacokinetic half-life of monoclonal antibodies and maximize their therapeutic utility.

In November 2012, arGEN-X filed a first CTA for ARGX-110, its most advanced SIMPLE Antibody program modulating CD70 via a unique mode of action in hematological and virally-induced solid tumors, as well as in autoimmunity. A second CTA for ARGX-111, a novel anti-c-Met antibody to treat diverse solid tumors, is on track for filing in 2013.

The SIMPLE Antibody™ platform is covered by broad patent claims, enjoys an independent, unencumbered patent position and is free of target gatekeeping restrictions.

SIMPLE stands for Superior Immunodiversity with Minimal Protein Lead Engineering.

arGEN-X™, SIMPLE Antibody™ and NHance™ are deposited trademarks of arGEN-X BV.

For further information, please contact:

Citigate Dewe Rogerson
David Dible
Mark Swallow
Nina Enegren
T: +44-207-282-2949 / 2948 / 1050
E: david.dible@citigatedr.co.uk

arGEN-X
Tim Van Hauwermeiren, MSc, eMBA
Chief Executive Officer
T: +31-6-122-85-257
E: tim.vh@arGEN-X.com

Debbie Allen, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Business Development
T: +44-7974-979479
E: dallen@arGEN-X.com

SOURCE arGEN-X