DSM and Tunitas Therapeutics Sign Agreement to Develop Lead Allergy Therapeutic

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Dec. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The contract covers the initiation of process development activities by DSM for Tunitas' lead Fc-fusion protein for the treatment of asthma and other allergic diseases. This project represents an agreement for DSM Biologics' Groningen, The Netherlands, facility for development where the intended manufacturing site is DSM Biologics' Brisbane, Australia, facility. Tunitas is an early stage drug development company dedicated to the discovery and development of a broad platform of therapeutic proteins for allergies. Tunitas has now permanently established a subsidiary Tunitas Therapeutics Australia Pty Ltd in Melbourne, Australia.

"We are delighted to be working with DSM Biologics for the production of Tunitas' first clinical candidate." said Nolan Sigal, President and CEO of Tunitas Therapeutics. "DSM has an outstanding and well-earned reputation for the production of biologics of the highest quality. Furthermore, the opening of the DSM's state-of-the-art facility in Brisbane, Australia fits nicely with our strategy to begin development activities in Australia."

Manja Bouman, President of DSM Biologics, commented "It is an honor to support the development of Tunitas' promising drug candidate from our facilities in Groningen and Australia. We are impressed with the potential of this product and the health benefit to treat the millions of patients whose asthma is poorly-controlled on their current therapeutic regimens."

DSM Biologics, a business unit of DSM Pharmaceutical Products, focuses on optimizing mammalian-based biopharmaceutical manufacturing through its unique set of technologies and expertise. In addition to an R&D and manufacturing site in Groningen, The Netherlands, DSM has opened operations in Brisbane, Australia, with the support of the Governments of Queensland and the Commonwealth. The Brisbane facility is DSM's blueprint for its 'biologics plant of the future' for the production of biopharmaceuticals. DSM's proprietary technologies drive down cost, processing times and capital requirements to meet market demand for developing affordable lifesaving medications.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Tunitas Therapeutics
Tunitas Therapeutics, Inc. (San Francisco) is a privately held biopharmaceutical company that is developing novel and precisely targeted protein therapeutics with the potential to dramatically change the lives of allergy suffers.  The company's therapeutic approach offers the potential for long-lasting treatments with safer, faster efficacy than conventional therapies, since they are capable of altering the natural course of such allergic diseases as food allergies, rhinitis and asthma. With close to $10 million raised to date in non-dilutive financing through peer-reviewed grants, Tunitas has successfully executed its capital efficient, semi-virtual business model. For more information on Tunitas Therapeutics, please visit the company's website at www.tunitastherapeutics.com 

DSM – Bright Science. Brighter Living.™
Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM's 23,000 employees deliver annual net sales of about € 9 billion. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.dsmbiologics.com and www.dsm.com.

For more information:

Guy Tiene
Director, Marketing and Communications
DSM Pharmaceutical Products
tel. +1 973 257 8160
email [email protected]

SOURCE DSM Pharmaceutical Products