Mar 22 2007, 8:05 AM EST
Business Wire
Argos Therapeutics today announced the issuance of United States Patent 7,169,898, which covers soluble forms of the protein CD83. Soluble forms of CD83 can be used to treat a variety of disease indications resulting from unabated cellular immune responses, including autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, as well as for transplantation rejection.
"CD83 has shown promising activity as an efficient immunosuppressant and Argos is leveraging its expertise in immune system function and dendritic cells in the development of this compound," said John Bonfiglio, Ph.D., President and CEO of Argos. "This patent further extends our CD83-related intellectual property portfolio and protects our continued development of this exciting, novel asset."
CD83 is a glycoprotein expressed on the cell surface of mature dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent stimulators of immune responses. The strong upregulation of this protein during DC maturation suggests that it plays an important functional role in the induction of immune responses. Experimental data demonstrate that soluble CD83 can potently down-regulate immune responses, indicating that it can be developed to treat transplantation rejection and variety of autoimmune disorders. Importantly, data from animal models demonstrate that soluble CD83 exerts its effects without a requirement for chronic administration and does not leave the subject globally immunosuppressed. In April 2006, Argos obtained exclusive therapeutic use rights for CD83 from Beckman Coulter.
"Argos plans to build on this positive data and has planned additional studies in transplantation and autoimmune models, the results of which will help drive our clinical development strategy for this candidate," said Dr. Charles Nicolette, Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Research and Development of Argos.
About Argos Therapeutics, Inc.
Argos Therapeutics is developing breakthrough immunotherapies that target the unique features of a patient's disease. This new generation of personalized cancer and infectious disease therapeutics trains the immune system to recognize and attack the disease. Argos' scientific leadership in RNA-loaded dendritic cells and advanced manufacturing processes provide a platform to tackle virtually all forms of cancers and infectious diseases. www.argostherapeutics.com
Argos is a private biotechnology company headquartered in Research Triangle Park, NC. The Company has clinical trial programs in cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and has an ongoing co-development and commercialization alliance with the Pharmaceutical Division of Kirin Brewery Company, Limited.
