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* Presentation of efficacy data from the Phase II trial of EndoTAGTM-1 in pancreatic cancer * 63rd Annual conference of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten (DGVS, German society for digestive and metabolic diseases); Chairman's meeting on October 2, 2008 * 16th United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW); Oral presentation on October 20, 2008
Martinsried/ Munich, September 29, 2008. MediGene AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: MDG) announces that the program committee of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten (DGVS, German society for digestive and metabolic diseases) has selected the clinical data for MediGene's drug candidate EndoTAG(TM)-1 for the treatment of pancreatic cancer for presentation at the "Chairman's meeting" of the 63rd annual conference of the DGVS, which will be held on October 2, 2008. The lecture will be given by Prof Dr Mathias Löhr, Professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, and Head of Molecular Gastroenterology at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, who is the principal investigator of the trial. The abstract "V02" is entitled PACLITAXEL EMBEDDED IN CATIONIC LIPIDS PLUS GEMCITABINE COMPARED WITH GEMCITABINE MONOTHERAPY OF PATIENTS WITH PANCREATIC CARCINOMA: A RANDOMIZED, MULTICENTER PHASE II TRIAL.
In addition, EndoTAG(TM)-1 data will also be presented at the 16th United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW). In an oral presentation on October 20, 2008, Dr. Stephan Haas, specialist at the II. Medical Hospital for gastroenterology, hepatology, and infectious diseases at the University Hospital Mannheim and investigator of the study, will present the data during the free paper session "Pancreatic Cancer: From Bench to Bedside". The abstract "OP056" is entitled SURVIVAL DATA OF FIRST LINE TREATMENT OF INOPERABLE PANCREATIC ADENOCARCINOMA WITH CATIONIC LIPID COMPLEXED PACLITAXEL NANOPARTICLES (ENDOTAG(TM)-1) PLUS GEMCITABINE COMPARED WITH GEMCITABINE MONOTHERAPY: RESULTS FROM A PHASE II STUDY.
Dr. Axel Mescheder, MediGene's Executive Board Member for Research & Development, commented: "We are delighted that data from EndoTAG(TM)-1 continue to arouse such interest. The selection of our data for presentation at the DGVS Chairman's meeting and for oral presentation at UEGW illustrates the interest this new approach to cancer therapy has among experts in the field."
During the recent ESMO Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, MediGene presented these very encouraging median and twelve month survival data from the above mentioned, randomized and controlled Phase II study. As previously guided, MediGene will present final analysis of the study later this year.
With EndoTAG(TM)-1, MediGene's approach is to fight cancer by "starving it" through the targeted destruction of endothelial cells of the blood vessels supplying the tumor. EndoTAG(TM)-1 is a positively charged lipid complex which attaches itself selectively to the negatively charged cells lining newly formed tumor blood vessels. Thereafter, the lipid complex releases the cytostatic drug paclitaxel, in order to destroy the blood vessels and to cut off supply of the tumor tissue. MediGene believes that this targeted destruction of endothelial cells will not give rise to treatment drug resistance, a common problem of many current tumor therapies. In addition, it is expected that the mechanism of action of EndoTAG(TM)-1 will be broadly applicable and suited for the treatment of multiple types of cancer.
At present, MediGene is developing EndoTAG(TM)-1 for the treatment of pancreatic cancer (Phase II study completed) and for the treatment of hormone-resistant breast cancer (Phase II study ongoing). MediGene is planning to conduct further development of EndoTAG(TM)-1 together with a development and marketing partner, discussions with several of which are ongoing.
This press release contains forward-looking statements representing the opinion of MediGene as of the date of this release. The actual results achieved by MediGene may differ significantly from the statements made herein. MediGene is not bound to update any of these forward-looking statements. EndoTAG(TM) and MediGene® are registered trademarks of MediGene AG. RhuDex® is a registered trademark of MediGene Ltd. These trademarks may be owned or licensed in select locations only.
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MediGene AG is a publicly listed (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: MDG) biotechnology company located in Martinsried/Munich, Germany, with subsidiaries in Oxford, UK and San Diego, USA. MediGene is the first German biotech company to have drugs on the market, which are being distributed by partner companies. MediGene has several drug candidates in clinical development, some of which offering substantial sales returns. In addition, the company has numerous projects in research and pre-clinical development and possesses innovative platform technologies. MediGene focuses on the research and development of novel drugs for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Contact MediGene AG E-mail: investor@medigene.com Fax:++49 - 89 - 85 65 - 2920 Julia Hofmann / Dr. Nadja Wolf, Public Relations, Tel.: ++49 - 89 - 85 65 - 3324 Dr. Georg Dönges, Investor Relations, Tel.: ++49 - 89 - 85 65 - 2946
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MediGene AG Lochhamer Strasse 11 Martinsried / München Germany
WKN: 502090; ISIN: DE0005020903 ; Listed: Prime Standard in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse, Freiverkehr in Bayerische Börse München, Freiverkehr in Börse Düsseldorf, Freiverkehr in Börse Stuttgart, Freiverkehr in Hanseatische Wertpapierbörse zu Hamburg, Freiverkehr in Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover, Geregelter Markt in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse;
