Antengene Corporation Announces Establishment of U.S. Subsidiary and Collaboration with the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute

SHANGHAI, April 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Antengene Corporation, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of oncology and anti-viral therapeutics, today announced the establishment of its U.S. subsidiary and plans for collaborations with the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, which resides in the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center where the Antengene U.S. subsidiary is located. Antengene also announced that Dr. Timothy M. Block, Co-Founder and President of The Hepatitis B Foundation; and its research arm, the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute and Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, will join the company's Scientific Advisory Board as an unpaid advisor.

The Baruch S. Blumberg Institute was co-founded by Dr. Baruch Samuel Blumberg and Dr. Timothy M. Block. Dr. Blumberg was the recipient of the 1976 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the hepatitis B virus while an investigator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Blumberg identified the hepatitis B virus, and later developed its diagnostic test and vaccine.

Dr. Jay Mei, Founder and CEO of Antengene Corporation, commented: "Creation of a U.S. subsidiary is an important strategic initiative of Antengene. It will further connect us with prestigious research institutions such as the Blumberg Institute. Aiming at introducing novel treatments to Chinese and Asian patients, Antengene has been conducting a multi-regional clinical trial (TORCH) in Asia specifically for the treatment of hepatitis B virus positive (HBV+) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We are excited to collaborate with the Blumberg Institute and together advance research discoveries in liver diseases."

The Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, established by the Hepatitis B Foundation, is dedicated to finding new therapies and biomarkers for hepatitis B and liver cancer. The Hepatitis B Foundation also created the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, to be home for its research organization as well as other research organizations and life science companies with an interest in liver diseases.  The Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center is now one of the most successful life sciences incubators in the United States. One of Antengene's research focuses has been diseases with higher incidence among the Asian population such as hepatocellular carcinoma. "We are thrilled that Antengene will locate its US operations at The Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center". Block added that "Antengene has very exciting ideas about treating liver cancer, and being at the same place as us will certainly facilitate cooperation and collaboration between our two organizations". The two organizations are actively exploring the possibilities of early stage drug discovery, with Antengene taking the lead in clinical development.

About Antengene Corporation

Antengene Corporation is a clinical and commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics to meet unmet medical needs in Asia. Antengene aims to provide the most advanced and first-in-class anti-cancer drug treatments for patients in China and rest of Asia. On April 13, 2017, Celgene Corporation (Nasdaq: CELG), a global leading innovative biopharmaceutical company became a long-term strategic partner and obtained an equity position in Antengene. Antengene's pipeline includes five clinical stage products, from Phase 2/3 and NDA stage ATG-010 for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, lymphomas and solid tumors, to ATG-008 that is in multi-regional clinical trial currently enrolling late stage HCC patients in mainland China, Taiwan and South Korea (NCT03591965). Two other Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical stage drugs, ATG-016 and ATG-019, are being studied in multiple cancer types, including MDS, colorectal and prostate cancers. ATG-527, studied in a completed Phase 1 trial, is being explored for multiple anti-viral indications, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and epstein-barr virus (EBV) related diseases.

About Baruch S. Blumberg Institute

The Baruch S. Blumberg Institute is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit research institute that was established in 2003 by the Hepatitis B Foundation (established in 1991) to advance its research mission of drug discovery, biomarker discovery and translational biotechnology around common research themes such as chronic hepatitis, liver disease, and liver cancer in an environment conducive to interaction, collaboration and focus. The institute was re-named in honor of Baruch S. Blumberg, the Noble Laureate who discovered hepatitis B, and helped found the Hepatitis B Foundation, in 2011, the year of Dr. Blumberg's passing. 

About Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center

The Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County is a nonprofit life sciences incubator dedicated to the creation of a world-class biotechnology center; to the promotion of regional economic development and job creation; and to the education and training of tomorrow's researchers.

Funded in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the 110,000 square foot facility opened in August 2006. The Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County seeks to advance biotechnology in Bucks County and the surrounding region, maximize synergies between nonprofit scientists and their commercial colleagues, and launch new ideas and discoveries that will make a difference.

SOURCE Antengene