Bend Research Technology Helps Advance Promising Compound

BEND, Ore., March 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bend Research Inc. (www.bendresearch.com), a leading independent drug-formulation development and manufacturing company, today announced a licensing agreement with Affinium Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (www.afnm.com).

Bend Research has licensed its proprietary spray-dried dispersion (SDD) technology to the biotechnology firm. The SDD technology, which is used to improve the bioavailability of compounds with low aqueous solubility, has been instrumental in advancing oral formulations of Affinium's promising novel antibiotic, AFN-1252, to Phase 2 human efficacy trials.

"We are excited about this opportunity to strengthen our relationship with Affinium and we'd like to congratulate them on advancing AFN-1252 into Phase 2 clinical studies," said Rod Ray, Bend Research CEO. "This is one more demonstration of the effectiveness of the technologies and tools Bend Research has developed to solve our clients' toughest problems."

In many cases, he said, the SDD technology has proven to be an enabling technology in developing oral dosage forms for difficult-to-formulate compounds.

The licensing agreement is the culmination of a body of work Bend Research performed to ready AFN-1252 oral dosage forms for clinical testing. Bend Research performed feasibility testing, formulation and dosage-form development, and process development, as well as manufacturing clinical supplies of SDD and tablets for the Phase 2 study.

AFN-1252 is the first of a new class of antibiotics being developed by Affinium for the treatment of infections associated with Staphylococcus spp, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Affinium's current Phase 2 study in acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections is the first human efficacy study of this new class of antibiotic. It follows recently completed Phase 1 trials, in which the oral formulation of AFN-1252 showed excellent safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics.

"AFN-1252 shows tremendous promise and fits well with our commitment to bring the best new medicines to patients," said Jim Nightingale, Bend Research President.

Dr. Barry Hafkin, Chief Medical Officer of Affinium Pharmaceuticals, said, "Bend's level of science and corporate commitment to produce an oral solid formulation is unsurpassed in my decades of experience working with formulation experts. Bend's contributions have allowed Affinium to achieve our corporate goal of starting the Phase 2 trial in January of this year. We are confident that the Phase 2 trial will confirm the effectiveness of the AFN-1252 SDD oral dosage form in combating staphylococcalinfections."

About Bend Research Inc.

For more than 35 years, Bend Research has worked with clients to create value by advancing new medicines that improve human health and to solve their most difficult scientific and technical problems. This success is based on the company's ability to develop, advance, and commercialize pharmaceutical technologies, which grow from a solid base of scientific and engineering fundamental understanding.

Bend Research provides numerous capabilities including formulation and dosage-form support, assists in process development and optimization, manufactures clinical-trial quantities of drug candidates in its cGMP facilities, and advances promising drug candidates from conception through commercialization. Bend Research is a leader in novel formulations, including SDDs and hot-melt extrusions, and controlled-release, inhalation, and biotherapeutics technologies.

Bend Research has more than 250 employees based in four state-of-the-art facilities in Bend, Ore., USA.

For more information about Bend Research, please contact Phoenix Ivers via email at [email protected], by phone at 541-382-4100 or 800-706-8655, or visit the Bend Research website at www.bendresearch.com.

About Affinium Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.

Affinium is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel anti-infective medicines. The Affinium FASII antibacterial programs constitute a new antibiotic franchise with the potential for multiple products targeting the FASII pathway. AFN-1252, is Affinium's first clinical candidate and is well positioned to meet the urgent medical need for a new, safe, potent, oral and IV therapeutic for staphylococcal infections, including multi drug-resistant and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Affinium has offices in Austin, Tex., USA, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For more information about Affinium, please contact Leisa Dennehy via email at [email protected] or visit the Affinium website at www.afnm.com.

SOURCE Bend Research, Inc.