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Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals and MediVas Announce Research Partnership to Develop Advanced
Hemophilia Therapies
San Diego, CA -- February 5, 2007 -- As part of its ongoing commitment
to provide advanced therapies for hemophilia, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division
of Wyeth (NYSE:WYE), announced the signing of a research collaboration with
MediVas, LLC, a San Diego, California, biomaterials company specializing in
improved delivery of biologics. This collaboration was initiated to discover,
develop, manufacture and commercialize novel biopharmaceuticals that extend the
duration of action of recombinant factor treatments for hemophilia.
MediVas will employ
a unique polymer-based drug delivery system to develop advanced delivery methods
for recombinant hemophilia products and improve patient convenience through the
creation of a longer half-life for these proteins.
“Our new research collaboration is
in keeping with Wyeth’s strong presence in biopharmaceuticals and the history of
innovation in hemophilia research. The novel approach of polymer-based delivery
systems could offer promise for other therapeutic applications,” says Cavan
Redmond, Executive Vice President and General Manager, BioPharma Business Unit
at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
Under the
terms of the agreement with Wyeth, MediVas will receive milestone payments
associated with development, regulatory filings and approvals and royalty
payments based on net sales of products. Wyeth will research, develop,
manufacture and market any products derived from the agreement.
“We are
hopeful that by combining recombinant hemophilia products with our best-in-class
polymer delivery system, we can offer an alternative to the intravenous
administration of this protein. We also believe this agreement will be part of
a far-reaching relationship between the two companies in many therapeutic
areas,” says Kenneth W. Carpenter, President and CEO of MediVas.
Hemophilia
is a rare, inherited blood clotting disorder, which affects approximately
130,000 worldwide. People with hemophilia are deficient in one of the key
proteins – either Factor VIII (hemophilia A) or Factor IX (hemophilia B) – that
are vital in the clotting cascade to prevent bleeding. Both forms of hemophilia
are characterized by spontaneous hemorrhages or prolonged bleeding, typically
into joints and soft tissue. Patients with hemophilia A or hemophilia B are
dependent on protein replacement therapy with Factor VIII or Factor IX,
respectively, for life.
About MediVas: Using its proprietary family of
biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, MediVas has developed unique platforms
for the delivery of biologics. MediVas is utilizing its novel polymer
technology in collaboration with some of the world's largest pharmaceutical
companies, as well as on its own internal product development efforts, to create
groundbreaking medical advancements. By combining therapeutic proteins and
other biologics with a MediVas polymer, delivery routes that were previously
unattainable, such as oral, intranasal, inhaled or subcutaneous injection, can
now be achieved. With these routes of delivery then available, MediVas’
delivery system can make the administration of the biologic more convenient,
more efficacious and safer, leading to higher patient compliance and overall
better health.
Contact:
MediVas, LLC
Victor E. Vilaplana
Director, Business Development
(858) 622-2005
vvilaplana@medivas.com © MediVas, LLC
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