Lpath Announces New Antibody Program, Altepan™, Targeting Respiratory Disease

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Lpath, Inc. (Nasdaq: LPTN), the category leader in lipid-targeted therapeutics, has used its proprietary discovery technology to generate several monoclonal antibody product candidates targeting the leukotriene family of bioactive lipids. Leukotrienes are implicated in numerous inflammatory processes. The lead antibody, which binds to and neutralizes several different leukotriene isoforms, has shown positive in vivo results, and testing in animal models of respiratory disease, including asthma, is now underway.

"The scientific literature on the leukotriene pathway, coupled with our preliminary in vivo data, suggests that Lpath's approach of specifically targeting the bioactive lipid rather than the proteins themselves may have significant benefits over prior drug-discovery efforts in this area," said Gary Woodnutt, Ph.D., Lpath's senior vice president of research. "If the data continue to be positive and our preclinical development efforts are successful, we intend to file an IND sometime in late 2015."

Lpath's CEO, Scott Pancoast notes, "Our ImmuneY2 platform has again provided Lpath with a new promising program, underscoring the power and value of the technology. We look forward to updating investors on this and other advancements in the future."  

About Lpath

San Diego-based Lpath, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPTN), an antibody-platform company, is the category leader in lipidomics-based therapeutics, an emerging field of medicine that targets bioactive signaling lipids for treating a wide range of human disease. Lpath's ImmuneY2™ drug-discovery engine has the unique ability to generate therapeutic antibodies that bind to and inhibit bioactive lipids that contribute to disease. The company has developed four drug candidates, two of which—iSONEP™ for wet AMD and ASONEP™ for cancer—are currently being investigated in Phase 2 trials. The other candidates are an anti-LPA antibody that holds promise in neuropathic pain and neurotrauma and an anti-leukotriene antibody that holds promise in respiratory disease. For more information, visit www.Lpath.com.

About Forward-Looking Statements

The Company cautions you that the statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These include statements regarding: the potential benefits and therapeutic uses of the monoclonal antibody product candidates the Company developed to target the leukotriene family of bioactive lipids, the Company's ability to successfully complete additional preclinical studies, development activities and clinical trials for these drug candidates; and the Company's ability to develop additional drug candidates utilizing its proprietary ImmuneY2 drug discovery process. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company's business. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. Such documents may be read free of charge on the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

CONTACT:
Scott R. Pancoast
President and CEO
Lpath, Inc.
858-926-3200
[email protected]

INVESTOR CONTACTS:
Westwicke Partners, LLC
Stefan Loren, Ph.D.
Managing Director
(443) 213-0507
[email protected]

Robert H. Uhl
Managing Director
(858) 356-5932
[email protected]

SOURCE Lpath, Inc.