Aridis Pharmaceuticals Expands Patent Portfolio for Several Fully Human Monoclonal Antibodies Against Infectious Disease Targets

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Aridis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company applying proprietary technologies to produce novel therapies for infectious diseases, announced today that in addition to the previously announced European Patent Office (EPO) patent issuance, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued Aridis' patent covering composition-of-matter, method of production and method of treatment for AR-301 (Salvecin™).

AR-301, a fully human monoclonal antibody (mAb) that neutralizes Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2a clinical trial across the U.S. and several countries in Europe.  AR-301 is being tested as an adjunctive therapy to standard of care antibiotics to treat hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).  AR-301 was identified and developed through Aridis' propriety MabIgX™ technology by generating a hybridoma clone from B-cells of a recovered S. aureus bacteremia patient.  The antibody works by neutralizing S. aureus alpha-toxin, which is a critical factor involved in the establishment and persistence of S. aureus infection.

Additionally, the patents covering Aridis' human mAbs against the emerging Gram-negative bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii), "AR-401," have also received notices of allowance in Europe and the U.S.

Vu Truong, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aridis, stated, "We are delighted to have successfully secured expanded patent protection for AR-301 and AR-401.  We are confident that the use of monoclonal antibodies to treat antibiotic resistant pathogens can have a broad impact on reducing healthcare costs by providing additional protection against infections.  The issuance of these patents adds to our already robust intellectual property estate covering our novel therapeutic antibodies, as well as our antibody discovery platform MabIgX^®. Furthermore, significant progress has also been made toward the near-term allowance of patent application for Aridis' novel fully human monoclonal antibody against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), AR-201."

About Aridis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Aridis is a privately held biopharmaceutical company applying proprietary monoclonal antibody discovery technology MabIgX™ to produce novel infectious disease focused therapies.  Aridis' product pipeline includes AR-101 (Aerumab™) anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS human monoclonal antibody; AR-301 (Salvecin™) anti-Staphylococcus aureus human monoclonal antibody to treat acute pneumonia; Aerucin™, a broadly reactive anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa human monoclonal antibody initially being developed to treat acute pneumonia; Panaecin™, a small molecule anti-infective gallium compound with broad spectrum activities against bacteria, viruses, and fungi; AR- 401 anti-Acinetobacter baumannii human monoclonal antibody; and AR-201 anti-RSV human monoclonal antibody.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the therapeutic applications of Aerumab™ (AR-101), Salvecin™ (AR-301), Aerucin™, Panaecin™, AR-401, AR-201, Aridis' proprietary formulation and delivery technologies, about Aridis' strategy, pre-clinical and clinical programs, and ability to identify and develop drugs, as well as other statements that are not historical facts. Actual events or results may differ materially from Aridis' expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the timing, success and cost of Aridis' research and clinical studies and its ability to obtain additional financing.  These forward-looking statements represent Aridis' judgment as of the date of this release. Aridis disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Contacts:

Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. 
Joshua Drumm, Ph.D. (investors) 
[email protected] 
(212) 375-2664

Andrew Mielach (media)
[email protected] 
(212) 375-2694

SOURCE Aridis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.