Raven biotechnologies to Provide Updates on Oncology Pipeline With Four AACR Presentations
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., February 12, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raven biotechnologies, inc., a privately held company focused on the discovery and development of monoclonal antibody therapeutics (MAbs) for cancer, announced four abstracts have been selected for presentation at the meeting of American Association for Cancer Research being held in San Diego on April 12-16, 2008.
"We are pleased to have this opportunity to present important data on both RAV12, Raven's lead therapeutic antibody entering Phase 2 development for the treatment of adenocarcinomas and the promising near-term clinical candidates in our oncology pipeline," stated George Schreiner, M.D., Ph.D., chief executive officer of Raven biotechnologies. "Raven will present significant new data on RAV12 supporting the chemotherapeutic synergies that inform its impending phase 2 trials. In addition, recent discoveries concerning novel epitopes and effector mechanisms associated with two new antibodies targeting cancer stem cells will be presented for the first time. Both antibodies are slated for clinical development. Finally, having advanced the technology to culture cancer stem cells on a sustained basis in vitro, we will present their in vivo biology, using prostate cancer stem cells as an important new model system for understanding the growth and metastasis of human cancer."
The presentations are scheduled as follows:
Oral Presentation in a Minisymposium Session
The anti-B7-H3-4Ig antibody TES7 recognizes cancer stem cell lines, modulates angiogenic factor secretion, and exhibits potent anti-tumor activity in vivo
Session ID: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics 24
Date and Time: Monday, April 14, 2008, 1:00 PM
Abstract Number: 2555
Poster Sessions
Human prostate cancer stem cell line spontaneously metastasizes in vivo
Session ID: Tumor Biology 5
Date and Time: Sunday, April 13, 2008, 8:00 AM
Abstract Number: 385
The RAV12 monoclonal antibody mediates antitumor activity via multiple mechanisms of action and synergizes with chemotherapeutic agents in vivo
Session ID: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics 32
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 8:00 AM
Abstract Number: 4000
Monoclonal antibody KID24 targets human ADAM9 and is a potent inhibitor of tumor growth and metastasis in vivo
Session ID: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics 32
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 8:00 AM
Abstract Number: 3989
About Raven
Raven biotechnologies, inc. (http://www.ravenbio.com) is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the development of monoclonal antibody therapeutics for treating cancer. Raven's lead product candidate, RAV12, targets adenocarcinomas and is in clinical development for the treatment of gastrointestinal and other cancers. Raven's discovery process simultaneously identifies cell-surface drug targets and the antibody therapeutics to regulate them. Our focus on biological function allows us to rapidly identify novel target antigens and therapeutic candidates in their native configuration in the intact cell membrane. Our integrated approach is based on proprietary methods for optimizing the production of MAbs targeting cell-surface proteins, including the use of human tissue-specific progenitor and tumor stem cell lines developed at Raven.
To date Raven has identified multiple candidate therapeutic MAbs for many cancer indications including lung, colon, pancreatic, prostate, breast, and ovarian cancer.
On November 12, 2007, Raven and VaxGen Inc. , a biopharmaceutical company, announced that their respective boards of directors unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement. The merger is expected to create a drug development company with a robust pipeline of monoclonal antibody candidates in oncology, proprietary antibody discovery platforms, biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and sufficient cash to fund operations at least through the end of 2009. The merger is expected to close in the first half of 2008.
CONTACT: Stephen Worsley, Business Development of Raven biotechnologies,inc., +1-650-624-2662, ; or Ellen Rose of AvaileCommunication, 1-650-387-8746, for Raven biotechnologies, inc. sworsley@ravenbio.com
Web site: http://www.ravenbio.com/
Ticker Symbol: (OTC-PINK:VXGN),(OTC-PINK:VXGN)
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Posted: February 2008
