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news.Apeiron Biologics has acquired rights to further develop and commercialize the immunocytokine hu14.18-IL2 from Merck KGaA, Germany.
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Immunocytokine hu14.18-IL2 – an investigational antibody-based biologic, met drug development endpoints in a Phase II study involving certain paediatric neuroblastoma subjects, following which it has progressed to a Phase III study.
It contains of the hu14.18 monoclonal antibody against the GD2 antigen, expressed on neuroblastoma, melanoma and other malignant tissues, attached to the cytokine interleukin-2 (IL2).
Apeiron plans to continue clinical development of hu14.18-IL2 in 2011.
Apeiron will further investigate the protein’s therapeutic capability for paediatric neuroblastoma, an indication with high unmet medical need, and will assess strategies to advance it in other cancer indications such as melanoma.
Apeiron CEO Hans Loibner said that it is great for Apeiron to obtain the rights to this compound from Merck KGaA for further development and commercialisation.
"I am glad that we managed to acquire an advanced clinical-stage project from one of the top international pharmaceutical companies," Loibner added.