IQ Therapeutics Completes Dosing of Antibody Against Anthrax in Phase I Clinical Trial

GRONINGEN, The Netherlands, April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- IQ Therapeutics has completed the dosing of antibody IQNLF in a Phase I clinical trial. A total of 36 healthy volunteers participated in the randomized, placebo controlled, double blind, single dose-escalating study, intended to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of IQNLF. The dosing has been completed successfully and doses up to 7.5 mg/kg have been administered, as per protocol.

Inhalation anthrax is a potentially deadly infectious disease with limited treatment options, in particular for the advanced stage of infection after the initial appearance of symptoms. IQNLF is a fully human antibody developed by IQ Therapeutics, as part of a dual antibody treatment of inhalation anthrax. IQNLF is formulated in combination with a second fully human antibody (IQNPA) forming IQ-DAA. Pre-clinical experiments have indicated high efficacy of IQ-DAA, even in advanced stage of disease. Survival rates of 100% could be obtained in post-exposure treatment rabbit studies, even when administered 48 hours post-exposure, well into the symptomatic stage of the disease.

"The outcome of the clinical study will provide more insight in the safety of IQNLF and how well the antibody is accepted by the human body at levels that are projected to be efficacious" says Dr. Roland Lageveen, CEO of IQ Therapeutics. "It represents another important milestone in the development of IQ-DAA, and the initial results reflect the value of IQ's Cloning the Human Response technology."

IQNLF and IQNPA have been developed using the Cloning the Human Response(TM) technology, a proprietary technology of IQ Therapeutics, generating fully human antibodies from immunized donors. The technology results in antibodies which have been matured and optimized by the human immune system and are therefore most suitable for fighting infectious diseases in humans.

About Anthrax

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Inhalation anthrax is often fatal if not treated immediately with the proper medication, before symptoms have appeared. IQ Therapeutics is focusing on treatment of patients who have become symptomatic and could otherwise not be saved with antibiotics. IQ developed IQ-DAA, the "Dual Antibody Approach", using a combination of two monoclonal antibodies neutralizing the lethal toxin produced by Bacillus anthracis, by targeting the PA and LF components of the toxin.

About IQ Therapeutics

IQ Therapeutics is a human antibody technology company based in Groningen, The Netherlands. Its mission is to develop treatments with Instant Immunity(TM) against healthcare threats, in particular in biodefense, infectious diseases and oncology. The company is applying its Cloning the Human Response(TM) technology to generate and develop fully human antibodies from immunized donors. These novel antibodies populate the pipeline of IQ Therapeutics and are also generated to support the portfolios of third parties. DSM is a strategic partner through a venturing investment and supplying the manufacturing capacity for monoclonal antibodies.

For more information, please visit http://www.iqtherapeutics.nl

SOURCE IQ Therapeutics BV