Antisoma receives USD 75 million following successful completion of
ASA404 licensing agreement
London, UK, 7 June 2007: Antisoma plc (LSE:ASM, US OTC: ATSMY)
announces that it has received the first scheduled payment of USD 75
million from Novartis under the recently announced licensing
agreement for ASA404 (formerly AS1404).
The payment was triggered by completion of the licensing agreement
following notification from the competent US authorities regarding
compliance with the provisions of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976.
Enquiries:
Daniel Elger, Director of Communications, Antisoma plc
+44 (0)20 8799 8200
Antisoma disclaimer
Except for the historical information presented, certain matters
discussed in this statement are forward looking statements that are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and
uncertainties may be associated with product discovery and
development, including statements regarding the company's clinical
development programmes, the expected timing of clinical trials and
regulatory filings. Such statements are based on management's current
expectations, but actual results may differ materially.
Background on ASA404
ASA404 (DMXAA) is a small-molecule vascular disrupting agent which
targets the blood vessels that nourish tumours. The drug was
discovered by Professors Bruce Baguley and William Denny and their
teams at the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, University of
Auckland, New Zealand. It was in-licensed by Antisoma from Cancer
Research Ventures Limited (now Cancer Research Technology), the
development and commercialisation company of the Cancer Research
Campaign (now Cancer Research UK), in August 2001. CRUK had supported
two phase I studies in the UK and New Zealand. ASA404 has shown a
substantial survival benefit in patients with non-small cell lung
cancer when added to paclitaxel-based chemotherapy in a randomised
phase II study. Worldwide rights to the drug were licensed to
Novartis AG in April 2007.
Background on Antisoma
Based in London, UK, Antisoma is a biopharmaceutical company that
develops novel products for the treatment of cancer. Antisoma fills
its development pipeline by acquiring promising new product
candidates from internationally recognised academic or cancer
research institutions. Its core activity is the preclinical and
clinical development of these drug candidates. Please visit
www.antisoma.com for further information.
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