SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 15, 2006 - MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:MCET), developing first-in-class drugs based on advanced immune system modulation and other proprietary technologies, today announced that the Company has completed payment of all upfront license fees related to its acquisition of MCT-125, a breakthrough drug candidate being developed as a treatment for primary chronic fatigue associated with multiple sclerosis (MS).
The payment was completed pursuant to the terms of the amended license agreement with Amarin Neuroscience Ltd. MultiCell estimates MCT-125 could generate up to $3 billion in cumulative worldwide sales during the time MCT-125 is under patent protection. If such revenue forecasts are realized by MCT-125, under the terms of the agreement, Amarin could receive up to $275 million in milestone payments and cumulative royalty payments during the same period.
"MCT-125 is one of our leading therapeutic candidates because it promises to be among the first treatments for the debilitating effects of chronic fatigue caused by multiple sclerosis," said Dr. Stephen M. Chang, Chief Executive Officer of MultiCell Technologies.
MCT-125 targets fatigue associated with MS, an autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack and destroy the myelin sheath protecting neurons in the brain and spinal cord. About two million people worldwide are afflicted with MS, and approximately 70 percent of them report fatigue as the worst symptom of their disease.
In a 138 patient, multi-center, double-blind placebo controlled Phase II clinical trial conducted in the UK by Amarin, MCT-125 (then known as LAX-202) demonstrated efficacy in significantly reducing the levels of fatigue, with few if any side effects, in all MS patient populations enrolled in the study including relapse-remitting, secondary progressive and primary progressive.
About MultiCell Technologies, Inc.
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. is an integrated biopharmaceutical company committed to the development of breakthrough therapeutics based on a portfolio of therapeutic candidates and patented drug development technology. MultiCell's drug development program is focused on modulation of the immune system.
MultiCell's therapeutic pipeline includes drug candidates some of which are in various advanced stages of human clinical trials. These therapies include:
-- MCT-125 for the treatment of chronic fatigue in MS patients. MCT-125 completed a Phase II clinical trial and demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing chronic fatigue in MS patients. There is no drug specifically approved for the treatment of chronic fatigue in MS patients anywhere in the world.
-- MCT-175 for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS. MCT-175, in preclinical development for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS, targets disease specific autoaggressive T-cells that destroy the myelin sheath of nerve cells. MCT-175 successfully ameliorated the disease in animal models.
-- MCT-275 for the treatment of type-1 diabetes. MCT-275, in preclinical development, targets disease-specific autoaggressive T-cells that destroy insulin producing cells in the pancreas. MCT-275 completely reversed the type-1 diabetic phenotype and prolonged life in animal models.
-- MCT-465 in an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of virus infection and cancer. MCT-465 in preclinical studies successfully reduced pulmonary influenza virus levels 1,000-fold in animal models, and has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing virus levels of HIV and HCV in animal models. MCT-465 in preclinical studies successfully eliminated certain types of tumors in animal models.
The Company also holds unique cell-based technology for use in drug discovery screening applications, and is a leading producer of the cell lines needed by the biotechnology industry to develop new drugs and therapeutics.
For more information about MultiCell Technologies, please visit http://www.multicelltech.com. For investor information about MultiCell, please visit http://www.trilogy-capital.com/tcp/multicell.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about MultiCell's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "believe," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "forecast," "could," and "would." Examples of such forward looking statements include statements regarding the timing, design, scope, and anticipated results of our clinical development of MCT-125, and statements regarding expected milestone and royalty payments to Amarin and worldwide sales relating to MCT-125. MultiCell bases these forward-looking statements on current expectations about future events. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. Some of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections in the forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to, the risk that we might not achieve our anticipated clinical development milestones, receive regulatory approval, or successfully commercialize MCT-125 as expected, the market for our products will not grow as expected, and the risk that our products will not achieve expectations. For additional information about risks and uncertainties MultiCell faces, see documents MultiCell files with the SEC, including MultiCell's report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2004, and all our quarterly and other periodic SEC filings. MultiCell claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements under the Act and each assume no obligation and expressly disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of subsequent events.
Contact
MultiCell Technologies, Inc.
Dr. Stephen Chang, CEO, 401-333-0610
MCETInvestor@MultiCelltech.com
