Regeneron Rapid Response Platform for Emerging Infectious Diseases Described in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Publication
TARRYTOWN, N.Y., June 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) today announced that the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has published a paper demonstrating that the Company's proprietary VelociGene® and VelocImmune® technologies enabled the rapid identification and preclinical validation of potential candidates that could be developed for the prevention and treatment of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). This involved the development of fully human antibodies specific to the MERS virus, as well as the creation of a genetically humanized model to test and validate these antibodies. In addition to MERS, Regeneron's proprietary antibody rapid response platform has been used to generate antibodies for Ebola virus and has the potential to address other emerging infectious diseases.
"Regeneron is committed to being part of the solution in responding to emerging epidemics, and we hope to collaborate with governments and other organizations in an effort to make our antibodies for MERS and Ebola available," said Neil Stahl, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Regeneron. "Fully human antibodies hold incredible promise for treating infectious disease; however, earlier generation technologies were not optimal for rapid enough development so as to address emerging outbreaks. Our Veloci-technologies identify and produce validated fully human antibodies, already in manufacturing-ready cell lines, within months as compared to years using other methods. This holds the potential to offer a rapid response solution for emerging infectious diseases, which are an increasing threat in our interconnected world."
Regeneron is currently collaborating with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on further evaluation of both the MERS and Ebola antibodies.
Currently there are no approved medicines or vaccines to treat or prevent MERS, which causes severe respiratory tract infections and is associated with high death rates. In addition to an ongoing outbreak in South Korea, cases of MERS have been reported in the Middle East, Europe, the U.S., Africa and other countries in Asia.
Details on Study Results and the Regeneron Rapid Response Platform
Regeneron researchers utilized VelocImmune®, a platform that enables the rapid generation of fully human monoclonal antibodies, to create a panel of antibodies that block interaction between the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Spike protein and its receptor, DPP4, thus preventing virus cell entry. In parallel, VelociGene®, a large-scale mouse genomic modification platform, was used to develop a genetically humanized mouse model for the MERS infection. Although mice are not susceptible to MERS, which has stymied many research efforts, VelociGene® enabled the creation of a robust mouse model of disease. In collaboration with the University of Maryland School of Medicine, which provided access to an infectious MERS-CoV clone and conducted testing with live virus, the potential treatments were evaluated in this novel small animal model.
About Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Regeneron is a leading science-based biopharmaceutical company based in Tarrytown, New York that discovers, invents, develops, manufactures, and commercializes medicines for the treatment of serious medical conditions. Regeneron commercializes medicines for eye diseases and a rare inflammatory condition and has product candidates in development in other areas of high unmet medical need, including hypercholesterolemia, oncology, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. For additional information about the company, please visit www.regeneron.com.
Forward Looking Statement
This news release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties relating to future events and the future performance of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Regeneron"), and actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "estimate," variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, although not all forward- looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements concern, and these risks and uncertainties include, among others, the nature, timing, and possible success and therapeutic applications of Regeneron's products, product candidates, and research and clinical programs now underway or planned, including without limitation Regeneron's development of antibodies for treating infectious diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Ebola virus; unforeseen safety issues resulting from the administration of products and product candidates in patients, including serious complications or side effects in connection with the use of Regeneron's product candidates in clinical trials; the likelihood and timing of possible regulatory approval and commercial launch of Regeneron's late-stage product candidates; ongoing regulatory obligations and oversight impacting Regeneron's marketed products, research and clinical programs, and business, including those relating to patient privacy; determinations by regulatory and administrative governmental authorities which may delay or restrict Regeneron's ability to continue to develop or commercialize Regeneron's products and product candidates; competing drugs and product candidates that may be superior to Regeneron's products and product candidates; uncertainty of market acceptance and commercial success of Regeneron's products and product candidates; the ability of Regeneron to manufacture and manage supply chains for multiple products and product candidates; coverage and reimbursement determinations by third- party payers, including Medicare and Medicaid; unanticipated expenses; the costs of developing, producing, and selling products; the ability of Regeneron to meet any of its sales or other financial projections or guidance and changes to the assumptions underlying those projections or guidance; the potential for any license or collaboration agreement, including Regeneron's agreements with Sanofi and Bayer HealthCare LLC, to be cancelled or terminated without any further product success; and risks associated with intellectual property of other parties and pending or future litigation relating thereto. A more complete description of these and other material risks can be found in Regeneron's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. Any forward-looking statements are made based on management's current beliefs and judgment, and the reader is cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements made by Regeneron. Regeneron does not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, including without limitation any financial projection or guidance, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Your IR Contact at Regeneron:
Manisha Narasimhan, Ph.D., Tel. 914.847.5126
E-Mail: [email protected]
Your Media Contact at Regeneron:
Alexandra Bowie, Tel. 914.847.3407
E-Mail: [email protected]
SOURCE Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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