PCI Biotech and BioNTech initiates preclinical research collaboration
Oslo, 1 September 2016 - PCI Biotech (OSE: PCIB), a cancer focused biopharmaceutical company, and BioNTech AG, a fully integrated biotechnology company developing individualized cancer immunotherapies, today announced that they are initiating a preclinical research collaboration involving the University of Zurich.
The partnership is governed by a preclinical research collaboration agreement. In brief, the preclinical research collaboration will evaluate technology compatibility and synergy based on in vivo studies performed by the University of Zurich. The companies will evaluate results achieved from this research collaboration and then explore the potential for a further partnership. PCI Biotech has already a collaboration agreement with the University of Zurich and the research is funded through the existing agreement.
Per Walday, CEO of PCI Biotech, said: "I'm very pleased to announce another research agreement in the field of nucleic acid therapeutics. We believe that the PCI technology has the potential to play a role in the realisation of several new therapeutic modalities. We look forward to explore synergies with BioNTech's pioneering disruptive technologies."
About PCI Biotech
PCI Biotech is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on development and commercialisation of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer through its innovative photochemical internalisation (PCI) technology platform. PCI is applied to three distinct anticancer paradigms: fimaChem (enhancement of chemotherapeutics for localised treatment of cancer), fimaVacc (T-cell induction technology for therapeutic vaccination), and fimaNAc (nucleic acid therapeutics delivery).
Photochemical internalisation induces triggered endosomal release that is used to unlock the true potential of a wide array of therapeutic modalities. The company's lead fimaChem programme consists of a clinical Phase I/II clinical study in bile duct cancer, an orphan indication with a high unmet need and without approved products. fimaVacc applies a unique mode of action to enhance the essential cytotoxic effect of therapeutic cancer vaccines, which works in synergy with several other state-of-the-art vaccination technologies. fimaNAc utilises the endosomal release to provide intracellular delivery of nucleic acids, such as mRNA and siRNA therapeutics, thereby addressing one of the major bottlenecks facing this emerging and promising field.
About BioNTech
AGBioNTech AG is an immunotherapy leader with bench-to-market capabilities, developing truly personalized, well tolerated and potent treatments for cancer and other diseases. Established by clinicians and scientists the Group is pioneering disruptive technologies ranging from individualized mRNA based medicines through innovative Chimeric Antigen Receptors /T-cell Receptor-based products and novel antibody checkpoint immunomodulators. BioNTech's clinical programs are supported by an in-house molecular diagnostics unit whose products include MammaTyper® a molecular in-vitro diagnostic kit, marketed under CE and IVD marking in Europe and certain other countries. Founded in 2008, BioNTech is privately held, with Strüngmann Family Office as a majority shareholder, having closed the largest initial financing in the European biopharma sector's history. Information about BioNTech is available at www.biontech.de.
Contact information:
PCI Biotech Holding ASA, Ullernchausséen 64, N-0379 Oslo, Norway. www.pcibiotech.com
Per Walday, CEO, pw@pcibiotech.no, Mobile: +47 917 93 429.
BioNTech AG, An der Goldgrube 12, D-55131 Mainz, Germany. www.biontech.de
Regina Jehle, Public Relations, Regina.Jehle@biontech.de, Tel.: +49 1631 9084 1273
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.