Targeted Immuno Therapies AB and Ferring Pharmaceuticals sign a strategic collaboration agreement for the treatment of IBD
Stockholm – 11 January 2016 –
Targeted Immuno Therapies (TLA) announced today that it has signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Ferring Pharmaceuticals, granting Ferring worldwide rights (excluding China) to its discovery of a new, novel treatment for IBD.
This collaboration aims to further develop the technology, created by TLA, for the treatment of IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, including Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease, unclassified colitis as well as microscopic colitis).
The newly discovered and proprietary technology works by removing harmful cells from the patient’s blood, thereby re-establishing a positive balance of the patient’s immune system. Patients are referred to their hospital to be treated ambulatory with a modified version of leukapheresis (or blood-exchange). The patient’s own blood is pumped through a column containing a specifically designed and proprietary peptide chemokine that removes the specific cells that are known to cause damage in inflammatory diseases.
A proof-of-principle clinical study, completed in 2015, with severely affected ulcerative colitis patients gave some promising results. The inflamed gut mucosa healed in more than half of the patients and this was linked to a significant reduction of the circulating pro-inflammatory cells. A confirmatory clinical study in severe ulcerative colitis patients is now being planned as the next step.
Dr Hans Glise, CEO of TLA said “This is a very important step for us and an acknowledgement of our technology. Ferring is a leader within gastroenterology, and Ferring sees the potential of our technology platform”.
“TLA’s technology is very interesting to us, as it has the potential to help patients with severe inflammatory diseases, where other treatments are without effect, or have unacceptable side effects”, said Per Falk, EVP R&D and CSO of Ferring.
Starting in 2016, Ferring will now fund the further product development and clinical trial programme, in exchange for an exclusive, worldwide option (excluding China), and this will hopefully lead to a fulfilling potential of this technology in the treatment paradigm related to severe IBD patients.
– ENDS –
About Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic relapsing-remitting illness for which there is no known cure, but with appropriate treatment patients can manage their symptoms. For moderate to severe cases of ulcerative colitis, immunosuppressant drugs or biologic drugs may be prescribed. If the condition does not respond to pharmaceutical therapy and the symptoms are severe, the patient may be referred for surgery.
About TLA
Targeted Immuno Therapies AB (TLA) was founded at Karolinska Institutet in 2005 and has developed a flexible technology platform for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. TLA has won a number of prestigious awards, such as the Universal Biotech Innovation Prize and Sweden’s Athenapriset (the Athena Prize). A very successful study of IBD was conducted during 2014. The technology is based on a discovery of Professor Ola Winqvist at Karolinska University Hospital.
About Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Headquartered in Switzerland, Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research-driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of reproductive health, urology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and orthopaedics. Ferring has its own operating subsidiaries in nearly 60 countries and markets its products in 110 countries.
To learn more about Ferring or its products please visit www.ferring.com
For more information, please contact
TLA
Hans Glise
CEO
+46-70-892-4824
hans.glise@ithgroup.se
Johan Järte
COO
46-70-652-4532
johan.jarte@ithgroup.se
Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Helen Gallagher
Corporate Communications
+41 58 301 00 51
helen.gallagher@ferring.com
Nicole Barraud-Estoppey
Corporate Communications
+41 58 301 00 53
nicole.barraud-estoppey@ferring.com