BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ, and CRANBURY, NJ, July 25,
2001
- Genta Incorporated (Nasdaq: GNTA) today announced completion of a
licensing agreement for several patents to EpiGenesis
Pharmaceuticals of Cranbury, NJ. The non-exclusive agreement
includes an upfront cash payment, along with royalty payments on
product sales. Fundamental claims in the Genta patents involve
methods, compositions, and processes for in vitro and in vivo
inhibition of protein synthesis by antisense oligonucleotides. The
patents in this portfolio are exceptionally broad and enabling for
most pharmaceutical uses, as well as many diagnostic applications.
Genta retains rights to these patents for its own use.
"Although this agreement represents the 4th transaction of this
type for Genta, EpiGenesis is the first such company to be actively
engaged in ongoing clinical trials with an antisense product", said
Mr. Thomas Burger, Gentas Vice President for Corporate Development,
who went onto note: "Genta has a deep patent portfolio for
therapeutic applications, and we are the only company that can
offer unrestricted sublicenses for these controlling patents. We
believe our current licensing strategy will both accelerate the
general adoption of antisense technology, as well as expand the
number of companies with whom Genta will share economic
interests."
Dr. James C. Mannion, President and Chief Operating Officer at
EpiGenesis commented: "This agreement enables EpiGenesis to both
accelerate and broaden our discovery and development activities
focused on creating blockbuster products for common respiratory
diseases. Our lead product for asthma, EPI-2010, is a respirable
antisense oligonucleotide (RASON) that targets the adenosine A1
receptor and is currently entering Phase II clinical trials. The
asthma market represents about half of the $20 billion per year
respiratory market and is expected to double by 2007. We are
pleased with the rapid completion of these negotiations, and we
look forward to continuing our mutually rewarding collaboration
with Genta."
EpiGenesis is a drug discovery and development company focused
on the rapid transformation of genomic data into novel medicines
for the treatment of common but poorly addressed respiratory
diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
and allergic rhinitis. EpiGenesis unique blend of core competencies
are based on RASON technology-used in target validation as well as
for RASON and small molecule therapeutics to treat respiratory
disease; and improved disease models that provide a more effective
method for developing and evaluating respiratory therapeutics.
