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BioInvent Interim Report

July 15, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

1 January – 30 June 2010
LUND, Sweden–(Business Wire)–

* Phase II data presented in May shows that the antithrombotic effect of TB-402
is better than enoxaparin, the current standard treatment.
* In May BioInvent and ThromboGenics achieved a milestone corresponding to EUR
10 million when development partner Roche launched a new clinical study with the
product candidate TB-403.
* Reorganisation will give greater focus on the company`s proprietary drug
development. Adapted manufacturing capacity to in house needs, reduces fixed
costs by around SEK 15 million on an annual basis.
* In March BioInvent entered into a partnership with Human Genome Sciences to
develop and commercialise therapeutic antibodies.
* A directed new share issue that raised SEK 150 million for the company before
transaction costs was implemented in February.
* Net revenues for January – June 2010: SEK 63.1 million (47.1).
* Loss after tax for January – June 2010 amounted to SEK -60.7 million (-88.2)
and the loss after tax per share was SEK -1.01 (-1.59).
* Current investments together with cash and bank as of 30 June 2010: SEK 138.7
million, excluding share of milestone payments for TB-403 received in July,
(150.5).
* Cash flow from current operations and investment activities for January – June
2010: SEK -89.7 million (-61.9).

BioInvent is a research-based pharmaceutical company that focuses on developing
antibody drugs. The Company is currently running innovative drug projects mainly
within the areas of thrombosis, cancer and atherosclerosis.

Comments by the CEO

BioInvent reached an important milestone when the results of a phase II trial of
TB-402 following orthopaedic surgery, were reported in May. The data showed that
TB-402 is statistically better at preventing thrombosis than enoxaparin, the
current standard treatment. Supported by these good results, BioInvent and the
company`s partner, ThromboGenics, will now prioritise securing a development
partner for the programme to ensure that the necessary resources is in place to
take the product candidate to the market. Current treatment options with
anticoagulants require daily dosing. The data we have presented reinforces our
position that a product dosed once post surgery with a significant reduction in
the incidence of blood clots, will provide significant advantages for both
patients and healthcare providers.

In the recent quarter our product candidate for the treatment of cancer, TB-403,
also took an important step forward as our partner, Roche launched a new
clinical study in patients with metastatic, treatment-refractory, colorectal and
ovarian cancer. The start of this study resulted in that BioInvent and
ThromboGenics together received EUR 10 million as a first milestone payment in
the early clinical development phase. The drug candidate has potential to be
developed into a treatment alternative for several cancers. We anticipate that
Roche will launch additional studies in the early clinical development phase to
explore these opportunities.

Within our collaboration project, BI-204, with Genentech to treat
atherosclerosis, the parties have now approved the design of the phase II trial.
We expect the first patient to be included by the end of the year, or early
first quarter next year.

In addition to the successes within our clinical product portfolio, during the
first half of the year we clearly demonstrated our ambition to invest in
developing our own product portfolio. In March we signed an agreement with Human
Genome Sciences with the objective to develop new drug candidates to treat
inflammatory diseases. We also decided to tailor our process development and
manufacturing resources to meet the needs of our proprietary drug projects.
After this move the company will withdraw from the contract manufacturing market
and focus our manufacturing capacity on our in house needs. We have proved that
we can generate considerable value through our own projects and we are convinced
that focusing even more on our drug portfolio will result in additional
shareholder value.

Lund, Svein Mathisen

Development projects

BioInvent is currently running four projects in the development phase. In the
development phase the safety profile of the product candidate is tested in
animal models, before testing safety and efficacy in clinical trials.

Thrombosis (TB-402)

TB-402 is a human antibody binding to Factor VIII. The antibody has shown a
beneficial partial inhibition of Factor VIII, even when applied in excess
dosage. This reduces the risk of undesirable bleedings. The objective is to
initially develop a drug that prevents Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) following
orthopaedic surgery. DVT is caused when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, most
commonly in the deep veins of the lower leg. DVT is a major public health issue
and it is estimated that in the US alone, more than 600,000 individuals are
affected by DVT or pulmonary embolism (PE) each year. The number of patients
undergoing total hip or knee replacement is estimated at around 2.4 million in
2009 and is expected to grow to approximately 3.1 million 2015 in the seven
major pharmaceutical markets. Patients undergoing hip replacement or knee
surgery are particularly at risk of developing DVT and all patients are
therefore treated with anticoagulants prophylactically in order to reduce the
risks of blood clots. TB-402 is a long-acting agent, which means it could be
given as a single dose to prevent the development of DVT in patients undergoing
surgery. This simple approach to prophylaxis would be an attractive option, as
all current anticoagulant treatment options require daily treatment for up to
several weeks. The project is carried out within the alliance with
ThromboGenics.

Results from the phase I trial show that TB-402 is both safe and well-tolerated.
No serious adverse events related to TB-402 were reported. The pharmacokinetic
analysis undertaken as part of the phase I trial confirm a prolonged half-life
of approximately three weeks. Additional studies have shown that the effect of
TB-402 can be reversed by giving the target protein (Factor VIII) that blocks
TB-402 and also that TB-402 is safe and well tolerated in patients that are
given standard treatment (enoxaparin and warfarin) for deep vein thrombosis.

Results from a phase II trial for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE)
following orthopaedic surgery, were reported in May. The phase II results showed
the superior antithrombotic activity of TB-402, when compared to enoxaparin
(Lovenox®: sanofi-aventis). The study showed that the two drugs had comparable
safety. Enoxaparin is currently the standard treatment to prevent VTE in this
setting. VTE encompasses both deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

The phase II trial was a multicenter, dose-escalating, randomised, open-label
trial, evaluating TB-402 against enoxaparin for the prophylaxis of VTE after
knee surgery. All patients received enoxaparin 40mg pre-operatively. Post
operatively, patients were randomized in a sequential cohort design to one of
three doses of TB-402 (0.3mg/kg, 0.6mg/kg or 1.2mg/kg) or enoxaparin 40mg (3:1;
n=75 per group).

TB-402 was administered as a single intravenous bolus injection 18-24 hours
after orthopaedic surgery, whereas enoxaparin was given as a 40mg subcutaneous
injection every day for a period of at least 10 days. The primary efficacy
endpoint was based on measuring all occurrences of VTE in patients by Day 7-11,
whether they were symptomatic or asymptomatic. The primary safety endpoint was
the number of patients with major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding from
randomisation until the end of the study at 3 months. The study enrolled a total
of 316 patients across 30 centers in Europe.

A pooled analysis of all groups treated with TB-402 and the group treated with
enoxaparin showed a statistically significant reduction (22% and 39%) of the
incidence of total VTE. The study also showed that TB-402 and enoxaparin had a
similar safety profile. The results were presented on 8 July at the 21st
International Congress on Thrombosis in Milano.

Atherosclerosis (BI-204)

The product candidate BI-204 targets oxidized forms of the LDL cholesterol
(oxLDL). Links have been shown between oxidized forms of certain lipoproteins
and the inflammatory processes that lead to plaque formation in the vessel
walls. BI-204 has in preclinical studies reduced inflammatory processes and
reduced plaque formation significantly. The results also show a considerable
reduction in the size of existing plaques in animals treated with BI-204.
Results supports that the mechanism behind BI-204 is a modulation of the
inflammatory process resulting in a reduction of pro-inflammatory cells in
treated plaques, which in turn leads to a reduction in new plaque formation and
the regression of existing plaques. It is being developed as a drug for the
prevention of secondary events in patients with cardiovascular disease. In a
population-based, prospective, observational study of the risk of development of
metabolic syndrome (JAMA. 2008; 299 (19) 2287-2293) higher concentration of
oxidized LDL was associated with increased incidence of metabolic syndrome
overall, as well as its components of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia.
These observations support the picture that oxidized LDL can be an important
target structure for developing new medications to treat patients with type 2
diabetes and metabolic syndrome. BI-204 is developed in collaboration with
Genentech, a wholly-owned member of the Roche Group.

The phase I programme was completed in 2009. The study was a double-blind,
within-group randomised dose-escalation trial testing both single and multiple
doses of BI-204 administered either intravenously or subcutaneously. In total,
80 healthy male or female subjects with elevated levels of LDL cholesterol were
included in the trial. BI-204 was well tolerated and pharmacokinetic results
showed the halflife was in the expected range for fully human antibodies.
Genentech and BioInvent have now approved the design of the Phase II trial.

Cancer (TB-403)

The product candidate TB-403, is a monoclonal antibody directed against
placental growth factor, PlGF. TB-403 binds PlGF with high affinity and
specificity and has been shown to inhibit tumour growth in animal models. TB-403
blocks tumour angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels, which is
required for tumour nutrient and oxygen supply supporting tumour growth.
Angiogenesis is also required for disease progression and metastasis, the
dissemination of the tumour to distal sites of the body.

The PlGF growth factor is secreted by tumours and is specifically over expressed
in cancer and chronic inflammatory conditions. It affects the formation of new
vessels in tissue that is under stress. PlGF is not required for survival of
normal resting vasculature and blocking PlGF is expected to be relatively safe,
because mice lacking PlGF are healthy and reproduce normally. Preclinical
research has also shown that inhibition of PlGF does not induce resistance
mechanisms because it does not induce “angiogenic rescue” mechanisms, whereby
tumour expression of proangiogenic growth factors is upregulated, which may
enable escape from therapy. This angiogenic rescue phenomenon has been
demonstrated with some angiogenesis inhibitors.

Up to June 2008 the project was carried out within the alliance with
ThromboGenics. In June 2008 BioInvent and partner ThromboGenics entered into a
strategic license agreement with Roche for development and commercialisation of
TB-403. Roche received a worldwide, exclusive license to develop and
commercialise TB-403. BioInvent and ThromboGenics retained co-promotion rights
for the product in the Nordic, Baltic and Benelux regions.

The first phase l study in 16 healthy male subjects was successfully completed
in June 2008 and showed that TB-403 is safe and well tolerated, with
pharmacokinetic properties enabling it to be developed as a novel anti-cancer
agent. A follow-up study in patients with advanced cancer was presented in
November 2009 at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular
Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Boston, U.S.. This dose escalation study
examined tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of TB-403 in 23
patients. TB-403 was shown to be well tolerated and no dose limiting toxicity
was observed with doses up to 10 mg/kg weekly and 30 mg/kg every three weeks. In
this patient population with advanced solid tumours, stable disease was observed
in six of 23 patients whereof two patients had stable disease in 12 months.

Roche launched in May a new clinical study of TB-403 in patients with
metastatic, treatment-refractory, colorectal and ovarian cancer. This resulted
in a milestone payment of EUR 10 million from Roche. ThromboGenics, the company
that initiated TB-403, received 60 percent and BioInvent 40 percent of this
amount.

This trial is a multi-centre, open-label (monotherapy), dose-finding study with
intravenous TB-403. The primary objective of the study will be to establish the
TB-403 concentration-pharmacodynamic (PD) effect relationship using DCE-MRI
(dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging) and to identify the
minimally PD effective dose. The trial will recruit up to 50 patients across
three European sites.

Cancer (BI-505)

The drug candidate BI-505 is a human antibody that targets the adhesion protein
ICAM-1 (also called CD54). In tumour cells the expression of ICAM-1 is elevated
and it is therefore a candidate for being a suitable target protein for a
therapeutic antibody. In addition to inducing apoptosis the antibody also
provides important immuno-effector functions that help to kill tumour cells.
BI-505 has in different animal models proved to be very effective at killing
tumours and more effective than existing drugs.

BioInvent`s intention is, in an initial stage, to treat patients with multiple
myeloma. Other forms of hematologic cancer may also become relevant as
indications. The possibility of treating ICAM-1 expressing solid tumours will
also be examined further in additional preclinical trials. The number of newly
diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma is more than 40,000 per year and the
number of newly diagnosed patients with blood cancer is more than 200,000 per
year.

BI-505 has been granted orphan drug designation in the United States and Europe
for the indication of multiple myeloma. This status gives BI-505 possibility for
market exclusivity for treatment of multiple myeloma with an antibody against
ICAM-1 for up to 10 years after marketing approval is obtained.

A phase I study for the treatment of multiple myeloma was launched in the US at
the beginning of the year. The study will investigate safety, pharmacokinetics
and pharmacodynamics and will aim to define the optimal dose of the antibody for
upcoming clinical phase II development. The study will involve 30 – 40 patients.
The patients will be treated with intravenous doses of BI-505 every other week
for a 28-day period with the possibility of extending the treatment until the
condition deteriorates again.

Research projects

BioInvent is running a number of projects in the research phase i.e. the stage
prior to selection of a Candidate Drug. The company`s research portfolio
currently includes projects mainly within the areas of cancer and inflammation.
The research in the cancer field is aimed at additional product candidates that
will impede undesirable vessel growth and thus the blood supply to tumours, as
well as at programmed cell death inducing antibodies that kill tumour cells.
BioInvent has together with a leading academic group launched a project focusing
on new drug concepts based on the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in
tumour development.

The company`s inflammation research is being enhanced by a partnership entered
into in March with the US company Human Genome Sciences. Under this partnership
the companies will work together to develop and commercialise antibody-based
drugs based on target proteins from Human Genome Sciences` research and
BioInvent`s antibody technology.

BioInvent has initiated a new project in cooperation with a leading academic
group for the treatment of type I diabetes.

The company is also conducting research and development on antibody-based drugs
on behalf of other external partners. Such partners includes Bayer HealthCare,
Daiichi Sankyo and Mitsubishi Tanabe. All in all BioInvent has entered into
agreements of this kind with the possible development of up to 30 antibody-based
products. As well as undisclosed license fees and research funding, BioInvent
will receive milestone payments and royalties on sales of any products
commercialized.

Revenues and result

Net revenues for the January – June period amounted to SEK 63.1 million (47.1).
Revenues for the January – June 2010 period include BioInvent`s share, SEK 38.3
million, of the milestone payment received when its partner Roche launched a new
clinical study involving TB-403 in May. BioInvent’s share, SEK 21.7 million, of
the first milestone payment for TB-403 is included in reported net revenues for
2009. Net revenues for the April – June period amounted to SEK 48.0 million
(10.3).

The Company`s total costs for the January – June period amounted to SEK 124.0
million (137.7). Operating costs are divided between external costs of SEK 68.2
million (86.9), personnel costs of SEK 50.6 million (45.2) and depreciation of
SEK 5.2 million (5.6). Restructuring costs (personnel costs) in connection with
changes in the manufacturing operation amounting to SEK 6.0 million were charged
to the company`s second quarter 2010 results.

Research and development costs for January – June amounted to SEK 106.1 million
(120.6). Depreciation according to plan reduced the operating result for the
period by SEK 5.2 million (5.6), of which depreciation of intangible fixed
assets amounts to SEK 2.5 million (2.8).

The loss after tax for January – June amounted to SEK -60.7 million (-88.2). The
loss after tax for April – June amounted to SEK -22.8 million (-53.5). The net
financial items, January – June, amounted to SEK -0.4 million (2.4). Earnings
per share after tax, January – June, amounted to SEK -1.01 (-1.59).

Financial position and cash flow

As of 30 June 2010, the Group`s current investments together with cash and bank
amounted to SEK 138.7 million, excluding the share of the milestone payment
relating to TB-403 received in July, (150.5). The cash flow from current
operations and investment activities for January – June amounted to SEK -89.7
million (-61.9). The milestone payment for TB-403 received in July will have a
positive effect on cash flow in the third quarter.

In February BioInvent implemented a directed new share issue totalling 5,434,800
shares that raised SEK 150 million for the company before transactions costs.
The subscription price was set at SEK 27.60 per share.

The shareholders` equity amounted to SEK 140.5 million (143.5) at the end of the
period. The Company`s share capital was SEK 30.5 million. The equity/assets
ratio at the end of the period was 65.2 (69.5) per cent. Shareholders` equity
per share amounted to SEK 2.30 (2.58). The Group had no interest-bearing
liabilities.

Investments

Investments in tangible fixed assets amounted to SEK 1.8 million (0.6). No
investments were made in intangible assets during the period (-).

Organisation

As of 30 June 2010, BioInvent had 90 (105) employees. 75 (90) of these work in
research and development.

Employee incentive program

The annual general meeting on 14 April 2008 resolved to adopt an incentive
program comprising a maximum of 1,450,000 employee options (Sw.
personaloptioner) and to issue 1,920,090 warrants for the subsidiary BioInvent
Finans AB, free of charge, to secure the company’s commitment under the
incentive program and to cover the company’s associated social security
contributions. BioInvent Finans AB has subscribed all the warrants. Each
employee option entitles the holder to subscribe to a new share at a
subscription price of SEK 26.84. A basic allocation of 513,750 employee options
took place during 2008 and 2009. Extra allotment of 69,750 employee options took
place in February 2009 and in January 2010 with 429,750 employee options.

The annual general meeting on 21 April 2009 resolved to adopt an amendment to
the existing employee options program 2008/2012, resolved by the AGM 2008. The
amendment program comprise a maximum of 240,250 employee options, directed to
the employees of the Company, entitling the holder to subscribe for new shares.
Each employee option entitles the holder to subscribe to a new share at a
subscription price of SEK 26.84. A basic allocation of 33,750 employee options
took place during 2009 and 2010. Extra allotment of 8,127 employee options took
place in January 2010.

Risk factors

The Company`s operations are associated with risks related to factors such as
drug development, competition, collaboration with partners, technology
development, patents, capital requirements, currency and interest rates. The
aforementioned risks summarize the factors of significance for BioInvent and
thus an investment in the BioInvent share.

Accounting principles

This interim report was prepared in accordance with IAS 34, Interim Financial
Reporting, the Swedish Annual Accounts Act and the Swedish Financial Reporting
Board`s recommendation RFR 2.3, Accounting for Legal Entities. The accounting
principles applied are consistent with those used in the preparation of the most
recent Annual Report. The updates and changes adopted by the EU and applied from
1 January 2010 and that will affect the financial reporting are the following:
IFRS 3R Business Combinations and IAS 27R Consolidated and Separate Financial
Statements. Their effect on the financial reporting is described in the 2009
Annual Report. The following new standards and amendments have not at this time
had any effect on BioInvent`s financial reporting: IFRIC 12 Service Concession
Arrangements, IFRIC 15 Agreements for the Construction of Real Estate, IFRIC 16
Hedges of a Net Investment in a Foreign Operation, IFRIC 17 Distribution of
Non-Cash Assets to Owners and IFRIC 18 Transfers of Assets from Customers. These
statements will be applied to the extent BioInvent International executes the
transactions in question.

Upcoming financial reports

BioInvent will present the following financial reports:
Interim reports 14 October 2010
Financial statement for 2010 10 February 2011

The report is also available at www.bioinvent.com

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income in brief for the Group (SEK
thousands)

3 MONTHS 3 MONTHS 6 MONTHS 6 MONTHS 12 MONTHS
2010 2009 2010 2009 2009

April-June
April-June
Jan.-June
Jan.-June
Jan.-Dec.

Net revenues 47,970 10,274 63,071 47,123 80,659

Operating costs
Research and development costs -61,638 -56,819 -106,086 -120,590 -229,187
Sales and administrative costs -9,658 -8,353 -17,875 -17,079 -35,466
Other operating revenues and costs 396 582 545 -110 4,492
-70,900 -64,590 -123,416 -137,779 -260,161

Operating profit/loss -22,930 -54,316 -60,345 -90,656 -179,502

Profit/loss from financial investments 157 814 -362 2,429 2,841

Profit/loss after financial items -22,773 -53,502 -60,707 -88,227 -176,661

Tax – – – – –

Profit/loss -22,773 -53,502 -60,707 -88,227 -176,661

Other comprehensive income
Changes in actual value 29 -93 1 -149 -211

Comprehensive income -22,744 -53,595 -60,706 -88,376 -176,872

Profit/loss pertaining to the parent company`s shareholders -22,744 -53,595 -60,706 -88,376 -176,872

Earnings per share, SEK
Before dilution -0.37 -0.96 -1.01 -1.59 -3.17
After dilution -0.37 -0.96 -1.01 -1.59 -3.17

Consolidated statement of financial position in brief for the Group (SEK
thousands)

2010 2009 2009
30 June 30 June 31 Dec.
Assets
Fixed assets
Intangible fixed assets 4,475 9,570 7,022
Tangible fixed assets 11,192 14,199 11,969

Current assets
Inventories etc. 2,948 2,058 2,037
Current receivables 58,360 30,088 21,198
Current investments 118,900 125,874 55,958
Cash and bank 19,774 24,669 28,062
Total assets 215,649 206,458 126,246

Shareholders` equity and liabilities
Shareholders` equity 140,534 143,503 55,633
Current liabilities 75,115 62,955 70,613
Total shareholders` equity and liabilities 215,649 206,458 126,246

Statement of changes in equity for the Group (SEK thousands)

2010 2009 2010 2009 2009
April-June April-June Jan.-June Jan.-June Jan.-Dec.

Opening balance 162,615 196,791 55,633 231,298 231,298

Effect of employee incentive program 663 307 1,229 581 1,207
Directed new share issue 144,378
Comprehensive income -22,744 -53,595 -60,706 -88,376 -176,872
Closing balance 140,534 143,503 140,534 143,503 55,633

Shareholders` equity pertaining to the 140,534 143,503 140,534 143,503 55,633
parent company`s shareholders

The share capital as of 30 June 2010 consists of 61,095,689 shares and the
share`s ratio value is 0.5. The directed new share issue carried out in February
2010 raised SEK 144,378 thousands after issue expenses, which amounted to SEK
5,622 thousands.

Consolidated statement of cash flows in brief for the Group (SEK thousands)

2010 2009 2010 2009 2009
April-June April-June Jan.-June Jan.-June Jan.-Dec.
Current operations
Operating profit/loss -22,930 -54,316 -60,345 -90,656 -179,502
Depreciation 2,615 2,704 5,155 5,649 11,117
Adjustment for other non-cash items 663 307 1,229 581 1,207
Interest received and paid 58 776 88 3,638 4,723
Cash flow from current operations -19,594 -50,529 -53,873 -80,788 -162,455
before changes in working capital

Changes in working capital -19,882 9,321 -34,019 19,477 35,312
Cash flow from current operations -39,476 -41,208 -87,892 -61,311 -127,143

Investment activities
Acquisition of tangible fixed assets -964 -588 -1,832 -606 -1,297
Cash flow from investment activities -964 -588 -1,832 -606 -1,297

Cash flow from current operations and investment activities -40,440 -41,796 -89,724 -61,917 -128,440

Financing activities
Directed new share issue – – 144,378 – –
Cash flow from financing activities – – 144,378 – –

Changes in current investments** -4,077 19,566 -108,916 62,275 151,196

Change in liquid funds -44,517 -22,230 -54,262 358 22,756
Opening liquid funds 64,291 73,868 74,036 51,280 51,280
Liquid funds at end of period 19,774 51,638 19,774 51,638 74,036

Liquid funds, specification:
Current investments that constitute liquid – 26,969 – 26,969 45,974
funds*
Cash and bank 19,774 24,669 19,774 24,669 28,062
19,774 51,638 19,774 51,638 74,036
Current investments** 118,900 98,905 118,900 98,905 9,984
138,674 150,543 138,674 150,543 84,020

*Duration less than 3 months

**Duration more than 3 months

Key financial ratios for the Group

2010 2009 2009
30 June 30 June 31 Dec.

Shareholders` equity per share at end of period, SEK 2.30 2.58 1.00
Number of shares at end of period 61,096 55,661 55,661
Equity/assets ratio, % 65.2 69.5 44.1
Number of employees at end of period 90 105 105

Consolidated income statement in brief for the Parent Company (SEK thousands)

6 MONTHS 6 MONTHS 12 MONTHS
2010 2009 2009

Jan.-June
Jan.-June
Jan.-Dec.

Net revenues 63,071 47,123 80,659

Operating costs
Research and development costs -105,053 -120,122 -228,207
Sales and administrative costs -17,679 -16,966 -35,239
Other operating revenues and costs 545 -110 4,492
-122,187 -137,198 -258,954

Operating profit/loss -59,116 -90,075 -178,295

Profit/loss from financial investments -362 2,429 2,841

Profit/loss after financial items -59,478 -87,646 -175,454

Tax – – –

Profit/loss -59,478 -87,646 -175,454

Consolidated balance sheet in brief for the Parent Company (SEK thousands)

2010 2009 2009
30 June 30 June 31 Dec.
Assets
Fixed assets
Intangible fixed assets 4,475 9,570 7,022
Tangible fixed assets 11,192 14,199 11,969
Financial fixed assets 100 100 100

Current assets
Inventories etc. 2,948 2,058 2,037
Current receivables 58,360 30,088 21,198
Current investments 118,914 125,827 55,973
Cash and bank 19,774 24,669 28,062
Total assets 215,763 206,511 126,361

Shareholders` equity and liabilities
Shareholders` equity 140,561 143,469 55,661
Current liabilities 75,202 63,042 70,700
Total shareholders` equity and liabilities 215,763 206,511 126,361

The board of directors and the CEO hereby ensure that this interim report for
the period 1 January 2010 – 30 June 2010 provides a fair overview of the
operations, financial position and performance of the Company and the Group and
describes the material risks and uncertainty factors faced by the Company and
the companies included in the Group.

Lund, 14 July 2010

Karl Olof Borg Lars Backsell Carl Borrebaeck Lars Ingelmark
Chairman of the Board
Elisabeth Lindner Ulrika T Mattson Björn Nilsson Kenth Petersson
Svein Mathisen
President and CEO

Review report

Introduction
We have reviewed the summarised interim financial information for BioInvent
International AB (publ) for the period 1 January 2010 – 30 June 2010. The board
of directors and the CEO are responsible for the preparation and presentation of
this interim report in accordance with IAS 34 and the Annual Accounts Act. Our
responsibility is to express a conclusion on this interim report based on our
review.

Scope of review
We conducted our review in accordance with the Standard on Review Engagements
SÖG 2410 “Review of

Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the
Entity”. A review consists of making inquiries, primarily of persons responsible
for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review
procedures. A

review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with
the Standards on Auditing in Sweden RS and other generally accepted auditing
practices. The procedures performed in a review do not enable us to obtain a
level of assurance that would make us aware of all significant matters that
might be identified in an audit. Therefore, the conclusion expressed based on a
review does not give the same level of assurance as a conclusion expressed based
on an audit.

Conclusion
Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe
that the interim report is not prepared, in all material respects, for the
group’s part according to IAS 34 and the Annual Accounts Act and for the parent
company’s part according to the Annual Accounts Act.

Lund, 14 July 2010
ERNST & YOUNG AB

Johan Thuresson
Authorised Public Accountant

BioInvent International AB (publ.)
Co. reg. no. 556537-7263
Address: Sölvegatan 41, 223 70 Lund
Tel.: +46 (0)46 286 85 50
info@bioinvent.com

Legal disclaimer

This press release contains statements about the future, consisting of
subjective assumptions and forecasts for future scenarios. Predictions for the
future only apply as of the date they are made and are, by their very nature, in
the same way as research and development work in the biotech segment, associated
with risk and uncertainty. With this in mind, the actual out-come may deviate
significantly from the scenarios described in this press release.

Information disclosed in this press release is provided herein pursuant to the
Swedish Securities Markets Act and/or the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading
Act. The information was submitted for publication at 8.30 a.m. CET, on 14 July,
2010.

BioInvent International AB (publ.)
Svein Mathisen, President & CEO
Tel.+46 (0)46 286 85 67
Mobile +46 (0)708 97 82 13
or
Cristina Glad, Executive Vice President
Tel. +46 (0)46 286 85 51
Mobile +46 (0)708 16 85 70.
or
College Hill
Katja Toon, Justine Lamond, Anastasios Koutsos
Tel. +44 (0)20 7866 7857
bioinvent@collegehill.com
or
Erik Clausen (US),
Tel. +1 415-230-5385
erik.clausen@collegehill.com

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: antibody, atherosclerosis, Bioinvent, development partner, Drug Projects, Enoxaparin, Human Genome Sciences, interim report, investment activities, Lund Sweden, Milestone Payments, pharmaceutical company, Product Candidate, reorganisation, share issue, Sweden Business, Therapeutic Antibodies, Thrombogenics, Thrombosis, Transaction Costs

MorphoSys Announces Clinical Milestone

June 23, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

MARTINSRIED, GERMANY and MUNICH, GERMANY, Jun 22
(MARKET WIRE) —
MorphoSys AG / MorphoSys Announces Clinical Milestone processed and
transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content
of this announcement.

First of up to Six Expected Clinical Phase 1 Milestones During 2010

MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today
that it will receive a clinical milestone payment from Centocor Ortho
Biotech Inc. (formerly known as: Centocor, Inc.) in connection with the
initiation of a phase 1 clinical trial of a HuCAL-derived antibody in the
therapeutic area of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The target
against which the antibody is directed is undisclosed.

As part of the Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. collaboration in 2007, a HuCAL
antibody became the first from MorphoSys to be developed in two different
therapeutic areas – oncology and immunology and in 2009, a different HuCAL
antibody advanced in the therapeutic area of inflammation into a phase 1
trial. Today’s announcement marks the start of a fourth clinical trial
that will be running HuCAL antibodies. Further pre-clinical programs are
ongoing.

“Our clinical pipeline is progressing very well, and we expect significant
progress in this regard during the course of 2010 with up to six new
partnered programs advancing into the clinic,” commented Dr. Marlies
Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys AG. “We are delighted to
see another antibody program advance into phase 1 clinical trials.”

MorphoSys projects that in 2010 between four and six partnered programs
could enter clinical trials. Today’s news represents the first
HuCAL-derived antibody to achieve this stage during the course of the
year. By the end of this year, up to 14 proprietary and partnered
antibody programs are expected to be in clinical trials including at
least four programs in phase 2 clinical trials.

About MorphoSys:

MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel
antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The
Company’s HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available
for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and
other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the
field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes
in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world’s
leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of
more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline
by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of
fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the
Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation. Its most
advanced program MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against
GM- CSF, is currently tested in a Phase Ib/IIa trial in rheumatoid
arthritis patients. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is
expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research
markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “MOR”. For further information,
visithttp://www.morphosys.com/

HuCAL(R), HuCAL GOLD(R), HuCAL PLATINUM(R), CysDisplay(R) and RapMAT(R)
are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG.

This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning
the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained
herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release
and involve risks and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from
the Company’s assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from
those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these
forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press
release is concerned.

For more information, please contact:

MorphoSys AG
Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Loeser
Head of Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122

Mario Brkulj
Senior Manager Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454

Jessica Kulpi
Specialist Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332

investors@morphosys.com

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: antibodies, antibody, autoimmune diseases, Biotechnology Company, Centocor Inc, Clinical Phase, clinical trial, Hugin, immunology, inflammation, Marlies, Milestone Payment, Morphosys, munich germany, Phase 1 Clinical Trials, phase 2, Sproll, target, Therapeutic Area, Therapeutic Areas

MorphoSys AG: MorphoSys Announces Clinical Milestone

June 23, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

MorphoSys AG / MorphoSys Announces Clinical Milestone processed and transmitted by Hugin
AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

First of up to Six Expected Clinical Phase 1 Milestones During 2010

MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today that it will
receive a clinical milestone payment from Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. (formerly known
as: Centocor, Inc.) in connection with the initiation of a phase 1 clinical trial of a
HuCAL-derived antibody in the therapeutic area of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
The target against which the antibody is directed is undisclosed.

As part of the Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. collaboration in 2007, a HuCAL antibody
became the first from MorphoSys to be developed in two different therapeutic areas -
oncology and immunology and in 2009, a different HuCAL antibody advanced in the
therapeutic area of inflammation into a phase 1 trial. Today’s announcement marks the
start of a fourth clinical trial that will be running HuCAL antibodies. Further
pre-clinical programs are ongoing.

“Our clinical pipeline is progressing very well, and we expect significant progress in
this regard during the course of 2010 with up to six new partnered programs advancing
into the clinic,” commented Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys
AG. “We are delighted to see another antibody program advance into phase 1 clinical
trials.”

MorphoSys projects that in 2010 between four and six partnered programs could enter
clinical trials. Today’s news represents the first HuCAL-derived antibody to achieve
this stage during the course of the year. By the end of this year, up to 14 proprietary
and partnered antibody programs are expected to be in clinical trials including at least
four programs in phase 2 clinical trials.

About MorphoSys:

MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for
therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company’s HuCAL technology is one
of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By
successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a
leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes
in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world’s leading
pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug
candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs,
and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary
portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation. Its most
advanced program MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF, is
currently tested in a Phase Ib/IIa trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Via its
business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the
diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and
listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “MOR”. For further information,
visit http://www.morphosys.com/ http://www.morphosys.com/

HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, CysDisplay® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks
of MorphoSys AG.

This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys
group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the
judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and
uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company’s assumptions, actual
results and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to
update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant
press release is concerned.

For more information, please contact:

MorphoSys AG
Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser
Head of Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122

Mario Brkulj
Senior Manager Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454

Jessica Kulpi
Specialist Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332

investors@morphosys.com mailto:investors@morphosys.com

mailto:investors@morphosys.com

HUG#1425803

Press Release http://hugin.info/130295/R/1425803/373992.pdf

— End of Message —

MorphoSys AG
Lena-Christ-Str. 48 Martinsried / München Germany

WKN: 663200;ISIN: DE0006632003;Index:TecDAX,Prime All Share,CDAX,TECH All
Share,HDAX,MIDCAP;
Listed: Freiverkehr in Börse Stuttgart,
Freiverkehr in Hanseatische Wertpapierbörse zu Hamburg,
Freiverkehr in Börse Berlin,
Freiverkehr in Börse Düsseldorf,
Freiverkehr in Bayerische Börse München,
Freiverkehr in Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover,
Prime Standard in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse,
Regulierter Markt in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse;

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: antibodies, antibody, autoimmune diseases, Biotechnology Company, Centocor Inc, Clinical Phase, clinical trial, Hugin, immunology, inflammation, initiation, Marlies, Milestone Payment, Morphosys Ag, Phase 1 Clinical Trials, phase 2, Sproll, target, Therapeutic Area, Therapeutic Areas

Immunome Named a Top Innovator Winner

June 8, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Award Recognizes Cutting Edge Private Companies Driving the Future of Innovation
WYNNEWOOD, Pa.–(Business Wire)–
Immunome, a discovery-stage antibody platform company focused on
life-threatening infectious diseases, is pleased to announce that it has been
selected as a winner of the annual New York Venture Summit Top Innovator award
by youngStartup Ventures. The companies awarded this honor have been identified
as those that play a leading role in innovation for the Technology, Life
Sciences and Clean-tech sectors.

As one of the winners, Tim Pelura, CEO of Immunome, will present the company at
the exclusive 2010 New York Venture Summit on June 17th at The Hotel Penn in New
York City, where a select group of 450 entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate
developers will gather to be the first to meet this next wave of leading edge
companies.

“We are very excited and honored to be in this elite group of youngStartup
Ventures Top Innovators,” said Tim Pelura, president and CEO of Immunome. “Every
day, physicians are seeing more and more patients with life threatening
infections for which they have inadequate or no treatment options. We believe
that if you want to cure a disease, you should start with the immune system of
someone that has already done it. Our technology enables us to capture the
natural curative antibodies of the healthy human immune system for use as
therapies for those patients unable to mount a defense.”

Honoring the Best

To Honor the youngStartup Ventures Top Innovator recipients, youngStartup
Ventures has invited their CEOs and founders to present at The New York Venture
Summit, a forum for the most exciting early stage and emerging growth companies,
and to share their insights on the future of innovation, and the entrepreneurial
journey. Held at The Hotel Penn in New York City, this intimate, invitation-only
conference is the premier venue for today’s promising startups.

For more information on the summit visit:

http://www.youngstartup.com/newyork2010/overview.php

About Immunome

Immunome is a discovery stage biopharmaceutical company that has created a
proprietary Native Human Monoclonal Antibody (N-huMAB) platform. N-huMAbs are in
the exact structures created by nature and possess the natural safety and
protective power of the human immune system. The Immunome method is an optimized
hybridoma method that exclusively produces affinity-matured IgG N-huMAbs. The
method begins with small blood samples obtained from volunteer donors who are
immune to pathogens of interest. B-cells from these donors are converted to
stable hybridoma cells that express full-length N-huMAbs that are specific for
those pathogens. The strength of the Immunome technology is its ability to
capture the innate immune response to infectious diseases and for vaccines. The
Immunome method is intrinsically unbiased, so Immunome is able to obtain
N-huMAbs not accessible by other antibody cloning methods. Because the Immunome
hybridomas express N-huMAbs in their authentic, full-length configurations,
Immunome`s N-huMAbs are suitable for functional testing without modification.
Immunome has captured high affinity, potent N-huMAbs in several therapeutic
classes – infectious disease, neurological illness, and biodefense. Immunome has
focused its internal development efforts on life-threatening infectious
diseases.

www.immunomeinc.com

Immunome
Tim Pelura, 484-476-1396
CEO
tjpelura@immunomeinc.com

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: antibodies, antibody, ceos, Corporate Developers, Discovery Stage, Edge Companies, Elite Group, Emerging Growth Companies, Entrepreneurial Journey, Human Immune System, infectious diseases, innovator award, Leading Edge, Next Wave, Pa Business, private companies, select group, Startups, Top Innovators, Winner Award

Flower can boost efficiency of anti-cancer drugs by one million times

April 29, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, Apr 29 (ANI): An extract from the white bloom can boost the efficiency of anti-cancer drugs by one million times, claim scientists.

According to experts working for Leukaemia Busters, molecules from Gypsophila Paniculata – commonly known as Baby”s Breath – appeared in trials to break down the membrane of deadly cancer cells.

This makes it far easier for antibody-based drugs to attack the cancer itself, reports The Sun.

The Southampton-based charity was set up by Dr David Flavell and his wife Bee.

Dr Flavell said yesterday: “This could truly revolutionise the way these antibody-based drugs work and it will save lives. And there is a really big possibility this can be used for many cancers.”

Scientists are now preparing for clinical trials. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Anti Cancer, Anti Drugs, antibody, bloom, cancer cells, cancer drugs, cancers, charity, claim scientists, clinical trials, Deadly Cancer, dr david, Drugs Work, efficiency, Flavell, molecules, one million times, Paniculata, southampton, times london

New discovery to help diabetics with slow-to-heal wounds

April 17, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Washington, Apr 17 (ANI): With a new discovery about wound-healing process, scientists could offer better treatments to diabetics and other patients who have wounds that take time to heal.

Loyola University Health System researchers found that certain immune system cells slow the wound-healing process.

Thus, it might be possible to improve healing by inactivating these immune system cells, said Dr. Elizabeth Kovacs, who heads the laboratory team that made the discovery.

In the study, the immune system cells that impeded the healing process are called natural killer T (NKT) cells.

NKT cells perform beneficial functions such as killing tumour cells and virus-infected cells.

However, researchers discovered that NKT cells also migrate to wound sites and impede the healing process.

The researchers used an animal model to examine the effects of NKT cells on healing.

Healing was significantly slower in normal mice that had NKT cells than it was in a special breed of mice that lacked NKT cells.

“We demonstrated that early wound closure was accelerated in the absence of NKT cells. Importantly, we also made the novel observation that NKT cells themselves are a constituent of the early wound inflammatory infiltrate,” wrote the researchers.

Certain conditions, such as diabetes and infections, can slow or prevent wounds from healing.

Researchers don”t know how NKT cells slow healing, but they believe it is possible to inactivate NKT cells using an antibody.

They are testing this prediction in a follow-up study.

The findings are reported online, in advance of print, in the Journal of Surgical Research. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: animal model, antibody, Beneficial Functions, constituent, diabetes, diabetics, dr elizabeth, immune system cells, Kovacs, Laboratory Team, mice, Natural Killer, new discovery, Nkt Cells, observation, tumour cells, university health system, wound closure, Wound Healing Process, wounds

HIV uses several routes to escape immune system pressure

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, September 19 (ANI): Researchers at the Emory Vaccine Center have shown that HIV relies upon a number of strategies rather than use any preferred escape route to escape immune system pressure.

The human immune system has the ability to temporarily overpower HIV in early infection.

Studies conducted in the recent past have shown that most newly infected patients develop neutralizing antibodies. These are blood proteins that glob onto the virus and would allow patients to defend themselves – if they were facing only one target.

However, the problem occurs when HIV mutates, and disguises itself enough to get away from the antibodies. The virus eventually wears down the immune system into exhaustion.

The Emory team’s findings attain significance as they suggest that even if any scientist succeeds in identifying a vaccine component that can stimulate neutralizing antibodies, HIV’s capacity for rapid mutation could still be a confounding factor.

Dr. Cynthia Derdeyn, associate professor of pathology at Emory University School of Medicine, Emory Vaccine Center and Yerkes National Primate Research Center, says that a single type of neutralizing antibody may not be enough to contain HIV.

“These neutralizing antibodies work really well – they hit the virus fast and hard. But so far, every time we look, the virus escapes,” she says.

During the study, the researchers took blood samples from the participants a few weeks after infection occurred, and then later as two participants’ immune responses continued.

They isolated individual viruses over the first two years of HIV infection, and tested how well the patients’ own antibodies could neutralize them.

“In one patient where we had very early samples, there was evidence that neutralizing antibody came up within weeks, and that’s earlier than what was previously thought,” Derdeyn says.

In both patients, some viruses mutated part of their outer proteins so that after the mutation, an enzyme would be likely to attach a sugar molecule to it.

Though the sugar molecule interferes with antibody attack, this tactic, known as the “glycan shield”, was not observed in all cases.

Other viruses mutated the part of the outer protein that the neutralizing antibodies stick to directly. In both patients, many changes in the virus’ genetic code were necessary for escape.

“We need to understand early events in the immune response if we are going to figure out what a potential vaccine should have in it. What we can show is that even in one patient, several escape strategies are going on,” Derdeyn says.

According to her, that means that in order to be immune to HIV infection, someone may need to have several types of neutralizing antibodies ready to go.

Seeing how the virus mutates will allow researchers to choose the best parts to put in a vaccine, she says.

The results are online and scheduled for publication in the September issue of the journal Public Library of Science Pathogens.(ANI)

Filed Under: Health News Tagged With: ability, ANI, antibody, attack, blood, blood proteins, blood samples, capacity, center, code, component, Confounding Factor, Dr. Cynthia Derdeyn, emory, Emory Team, emory university school, emory university school of medicine, Enzym, enzyme, escape, escape route, evidence, exhaustion, factor, GLOB, glycan, HIV, hiv infection, Human Immune System, immune responses, infection, issue, journal, library, medicine, molecule, mutation, national, neutralize, neutralizing antibodies, number, Online, order, part, pathogens, pathology, patient, pressure, primate, primate research center, problem, professor, protein, Public, publication, Research, response, route, school, school of medicine, Science, scientist, September, shield, significance, someone, study, sugar, system, tactic, target, team, time, type, University, use, vaccine, vaccine center, virus, Washington, yerkes

New method to monitor early sign of oxidative stress that triggers cancer

September 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Sept 12 (ANI): Scientists from University of Michigan have developed a new method to monitor early sign of oxidative stress that triggers cancer spread.

Lead researcher Kate Carroll suggests that being able to monitor a marker of oxidative stress that is associated with the activation of tumor cell growth pathways, particularly at an early stage, and then tailor treatments accordingly would allow for more targeted studies and might improve the odds of success with antioxidants and pro-oxidants.

The new method detects sulfenic acid in proteins-a tip off to early oxidative stress and to a specific protein modification associated with cell growth pathways.

Sulfenic acid is produced when a particular oxidant, hydrogen peroxide, reacts with the protein building block cysteine. But because the chemical modification involved is so small and transient, it has been difficult to detect.

To get around that problem, Carroll and Seo used a chemical probe that “traps” sulfenic acid and tags it for recognition by an antibody.

The antibody is labeled with a fluorescent dye that glows when observed with a fluorescence microscope.

The researchers then used the method to assess sulfenic acid levels as a marker of oxidative stress in several systems, including a panel of breast cancer cell lines.

“For each line, we saw a very distinct pattern of sulfenic acid modifications,” indicating different oxidative stress levels and hinting at differences in the underlying molecular events associated with tumor growth,” said Carroll, assistant professor of chemistry and a research assistant professor in the Life Sciences Institute.

“Whether the patterns we see will correlate with response to antioxidant treatment or other therapies that modulate oxidative stress level remains to be seen, but now we at least have a way to investigate that question,” the expert added.

The study appears in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (ANI)

Filed Under: Science News Tagged With: academy, acid, Acid In Proteins, acid levels, activation, ANI, antibody, antioxidant, assistant, block, breast, breast cancer, building, cancer, cancer cell, cell, chemical, Chemical Probe, chemistry, Cysteine, Distinct Pattern, dye, expert, fluorescence, Fluorescence Microscope, fluorescent, growth, Growth Pathways, hydrogen, hydrogen peroxide, institute, Kate Carroll, level, life, Life Sciences Institute, line, marker, method, michigan, microscope, modification, national, National Academy of Sciences, New, oxidant, panel, pattern, peroxide, probe, problem, proceedings, proceedings of the national academy, proceedings of the national academy of sciences, professor, protein, Protein Modification, question, recognition, Research, research assistant professor, researcher, response, SEO, Sept, sign, stage, stress, stress level, stress levels, study, success, Sulfenic, tailor, tip, treatment, tumor, Tumor Cell Growth, tumor growth, University, Washington, way

Painless ‘microneedle’ patch may end jab fear

August 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Aug 20 (ANI): Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have designed a painless patch that may someday make hypodermic needles as well as annual flu shots a thing of the past.

These patches, lined with tiny ‘microneedles,’ could make treatment of diabetes and a wide range of other diseases safer, more effective and less painful, according to the researchers.

Used as tiny hypodermic needles, they could improve treatment of macular degeneration and other diseases of the eye.

“It’s our goal to get rid of the need for hypodermic needles in many cases and replace them with a patch that can be painlessly and simply applied by a patient,” said Mark Prausnitz from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

“If you can move to something that’s as easy to apply as a band-aid, you’ve now opened the door for people to self-administer their medicine without special training,” he added.

Prausnitz said that advances in the electronics industry in microfabricating very small objects like transistors enabled the development of microneedles.

“We’ve built off those technological advances to address a need in medicine. We’re trying to bring the two worlds together,” he said.

Each needle is only a few hundred microns long, about the width of a few strands of human hair.

Prausnitz and his colleagues suggest that the microneedle patch could, for instance, replace yearly trips to the doctor for flu shots.

In a collaboration with Emory University, Prausnitz and his team administered flu vaccines via conventional injections and microneedle patches in mice.

After exposing the mice to the flu, they compared the resulting immune response and antibody levels. They found that the antibody levels were the same by either route.

Taking a closer look, they discovered that microneedle delivery resulted in a better protective immune response by other measures.

“Toward the goal of a flu vaccine patch, we are continuing the animal studies, but we’re also working toward our first human trial, which we hope to do in 2010,” Prausnitz said.

Microneedles are not just able to deliver drugs through the skin they can also be used for targeted drug delivery in the eye.

They may help create an improved treatment for macular degeneration.

The study has been presented at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. (ANI)

Filed Under: Science News Tagged With: American, ANI, animal, animal studies, antibody, antibody levels, Aug, band aid, chemical, collaboration, degeneration, delivery, Development, diabetes, Diseases Of The Eye, doctor, door, drug, electronics industry, emory, emory university, eye, fear, Flu, Flu Shots, flu vaccine, flu vaccines, Georgia, georgia institute of technology, Goal, hair, human hair, Hypodermic Needles, industry, instance, institute, jab, look, macular, macular degeneration, Mark Prausnitz, medicine, microneedle, Microneedles, microns, national, need, needle, painless, past, patch, patient, prausnitz, Protective Immune Response, range, response, route, skin, society, something, study, taking a closer look, team, Technology, these patches, thing, training, treatment, Treatment Of Diabetes, trial, University, vaccine, Washington, width

Scientists use titanium dioxide nanoparticles to kill cancer cells, sparing healthy ones

August 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, August 20 (ANI): Scientists in America have developed a way to target brain cancer cells using inorganic titanium dioxide nanoparticles bonded to soft biological material.

This achievement is a result of the joint efforts of scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) and the University of Chicago’s Brain Tumor Center.

Thousands of people die from malignant brain tumours every year, and the tumors are resistant to conventional therapies.

The researchers say that their nano-bio technology may eventually provide an alternative form of therapy, which targets only cancer cells and does not affect normal living tissue.

“It is a real example of how nano and biological interfacing can be used for biomedical application. We chose brain cancer because of its difficulty in treatment and its unique receptors,” said scientist Elena Rozhkova with the DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory.

The novel approach relies upon a two-pronged approach.

The researchers describe titanium dioxide as a versatile photoreactive nanomaterial that can be bonded with biomolecules.

When linked to an antibody, they say, nanoparticles recognize and bind specifically to cancer cells.

When focused visible light is shined onto the affected region, the researchers add, the localized titanium dioxide reacts to the light by creating free oxygen radicals that interact with the mitochondria in the cancer cells.

Mitochondria act as cellular energy plants, and when free radicals interfere with their biochemical pathways, mitochondria receive a signal to start cell death.

“The significance of this work lies in our ability to effectively target nanoparticles to specific cell surface receptors expressed on brain cancer cells,” said Dr. Maciej S. Lesniak, Director of Neurosurgical Oncology at University of Chicago Brain Tumor Center.

“In so doing, we have overcome a major limitation involving the application of nanoparticles in medicine, namely the potential of these agents to distribute throughout the body. We are now in a position to develop this exciting technology in preclinical models of brain tumours, with the hope of one day employing this new technology in patients,” Lesniak added.

Using X-ray fluorescence microscopy at Argonne’s Advanced Photon Source, the researchers have also found that the tumours’ invadopodia, actin-rich micron scale protrusions that allow the cancer to invade surrounding healthy cells, can be also attacked by the titanium dioxide.

The researchers have thus far carried out tests on cells in a laboratory setting, but animal testing is planned for the next phase.

Results show an almost 100 percent cancer cell toxicity rate after six hours of illumination, and 80 percent after 48 hours.

Also, since the antibody only targets the cancer cells, surrounding healthy cells are not affected, unlike other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Rozhkova said that a proof of concept is demonstrated, and other cancers can be treated as well using different targeting molecules.

The expert, however, admits that the research is presently in the early stages. (ANI)

Filed Under: Health News Tagged With: ability, achievement, act, advanced, america, ANI, animal, antibody, application, approach, Argonne, Argonne National Laboratory, August, bind, biochemical pathways, Biological Material, Biomedical Application, biomolecules, body, brain, brain cancer, Brain Tumor Center, cancer, cancer cells, cell, Cell Surface Receptors, Cellular Energy, center, chemotherapy, Chicago, concept, Conventional Therapies, day, death, difficulty, dioxide, director, DOE, Dr. Maciej S, Elena Rozhkova, energy, Energy Plants, example, expert, fluorescence, form, Free Oxygen Radicals, free radicals, hope, illumination, interact, invadopodia, Laboratory, Lesniak, light, limitation, living, Malignant Brain Tumours, material, medicine, micron, microscopy, mitochondria, Nano, nanomaterial, national, Neurosurgical, novel, novel approach, oncology, oxygen, percent, phase, photon, position, potential, pronged approach, proof, radiotherapy, rate, ray, region, Research, result, scale, scientist, signal, significance, source, surface, Technology, testing, therapy, tissue, titanium, titanium dioxide, toxicity, treatment, tumor, U.S. Department, University, versatile, Washington, way, work, year

New treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia developed

July 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, July 7 (ANI): Australian and Canadian researchers have developed a new therapy that specifically targets cancer stem cells in acute myeloid leukaemia.

The new treatment targets a protein, CD123, on the surface of cancer stem cells that drive acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which is an aggressive disease with a poor outcome.

In the study led by Dr. Richard Lock in Australia, the researchers showed that antibodies targeting cancer stem cells significantly reduced the growth of human AML cells that had been transplanted into immune-deficient mice, mimicking the human disease.

Principle investigator of the study Dr. John Dick, senior scientist at the Ontario Cancer Institute, had previously shown that there is a population of cells within cancer, termed cancer stem cells, which are responsible for sustaining cancer growth.

The antibody targets the CD123 protein (IL-3 receptor a chain) on the cancer stem cells that drive cancer growth.

However, it does not appear to affect normal blood cells. On the basis of this experimental work, a Phase I clinical trial has been initiated to test safety and effectiveness in patients. (ANI)

Filed Under: Science News Tagged With: Acute Myeloid Leukemia, aggressive disease, antibodies, antibody, blood cells, canadian researchers, cancer growth, clinical trial, Deficient Mice, dr john, dr richard, experimental work, john dick, Leukemia Aml, Myeloid Leukaemia, normal blood, ontario cancer institute, poor outcome, Principle Investigator, stem cells

Scientists use genetic engineering to make virus-resistant grapevines

July 3, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, July 3 (ANI): Scientists are making certain plants resistant to the “Grapevine fanleaf virus” GFLV by genetic engineering.

Extremely hot or rainy periods can destroy entire crops, not to mention the wide variety of pests that can appear on the scene.

Bugs such as the vine louse or the rust mite, fungi such as mildew, or viruses such as the GFLV can give the vines a hard time.
he GFLV infects the grapevine and causes fanleaf disease, resulting in deformed and very yellowed leaves, smaller grapes and crop loss.

Now, with the help of genetic engineering, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME in Aachen in Germany, are making certain plants resistant to GFLV.

“Our modified plants produce antibodies,” explained Dr. Stefan Schillberg, head of department at the IME. “These antibodies ‘recognize’ the viruses and prevent them from spreading in the plant and causing damage,” she added.

To enable the plant to produce the antibodies, the scientists have to modify its genotype and channel genetic information for the antibodies into it.

This task is performed by tiny helpers called agrobacteria, which genetic engineers have been using for over twenty years.

These are soil bacteria that inherently transfer parts of their own genome to that of the plant.

Using simple routine processes, the researchers introduce the antibody gene into the bacteria, which then act as a transport vehicle and carry it over to the vine.

The researchers are still testing this process on model plants, and the first results show that their modified versions are up to 100 percent resistant to the virus.
“The antibody is produced very effectively inside the plants,” said Schillberg. “The next step on the agenda is to test the method on actual grapevines and then to carry out field tests,” he added. (ANI)

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Novel targeted therapy shows promise to eliminate leukaemia stem cells

July 3, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, July 3 (ANI): A piece of research has shown that it is possible to eliminate stem cells related to human acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a notoriously treatment-resistant blood cancer, using a new targeted therapy.

Associate Professor Richard Lock, from the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia and the University of New South Wales, has revealed that the new therapeutic approach has been found to selectively attack human cancer cells grown in the lab as well as in animal models of leukaemia.

AML is a cancer of the white blood cells that has an extremely poor prognosis and does not respond well to conventional chemotherapy.

“The cellular and molecular basis for this dismal picture is unclear. However, previous research has suggested that leukaemia stem cells (LSCs) may lie at the heart of post-treatment relapse and chemoresistance,” says Lock.

LSCs are cells that can initiate AML and are critical for its long-term growth.

Lock and his colleagues exploited the fact that the molecule CD123 is expressed at very high levels on LSCs but not on normal blood cells.

The researchers created a therapeutic antibody that recognized and bound to CD123, hoping that the antibody would selectively interfere with AML-LSC survival.

When AML-LSCs from human patients were transplanted into mice treated with the antibody, called 7G3, cytokine signalling in the tumour cells was blocked.

The research team also observed that 7G3 impaired migration of the AML-LSCs to bone marrow, and activated the innate immune system of the host mouse to destroy the AML-LSCs.

They say that, overall, treatment with 7G3 substantially improved mouse survival when compared with control groups.

Lock and his colleagues are currently using a CD123-targeting antibody in phase 1 clinical trials of advanced AML. They say that there are no signs of treatment-related toxicity.

These results hold substantial promise for future cancer therapeutics.

“The recent characterization of defined populations of cancer stem cells in a range of human malignancies, as well as their relative resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, supports the broad applicability of our approach and provides rationale for the progression of AML-LSC-targeted therapeutics from preclinical evaluation to clinical trials,” concludes Associate Professor Lock.

A research article on the study has been published in the journal Cell Stem Cell. (ANI)

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Experimental drug leads to remarkable recoveries in 2 prostate cancer patients

June 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, June 20 (ANI): Two patients with inoperable prostate cancer have made remarkable recoveries after being given only a single dose of an experimental drug, called ipilimumab.

Rodger Nelson and Fructuoso Solano-Revuelta were diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, and were part of a trial at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota in the US that involved 108 patients, half of whom received the experimental drug.

The drug’s results were so impressive that researchers decided to release details of the two cases before the drug trial was complete.

Dr Eugene Kwon, the urologist who was in charge of their treatment, said that their progress had exceeded all expectations, and likened the results to the first pilot breaking the sound barrier.

“This is one of the Holy Grails of prostate cancer research. We have been looking for this for years,” the Independent quoted him as saying.

Initially, the pair were told that the disease had spread beyond the prostate-Nelson’s cancer was encroaching on the abdomen and Solano-Revuelta’s tumour was the size of a golf ball.

Usually, patients in such condition are told they may have only months to live, and are normally only offered palliative care.

But after one infusion of the drug ipilimumab, a monoclonal antibody that stimulates the immune system, given with conventional hormone therapy, their tumours shrank enough to be surgically removed.

Since then, both men have made a full recovery and returned to their businesses.

Although the trial is still going on, but the improvement of the two patients was so dramatic and unexpected that they were removed from the study so they could undergo curative surgery.

“Halfway through the trial we began seeing remarkable responses. Some patients had dramatic shrinkage of their tumours so practically all traces had disappeared. We had thought we might get some incremental delay in the progression of the cancer. It had not dawned on us that we might go from an inoperable tumour to an operable one. That just doesn’t happen,” said Kwon. (ANI)

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Now, a quicker, cheaper SARS virus detector

May 30, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, May 30 (ANI): Scientists at the University of Southern California have developed a quicker and cheaper breed of electronic detectors for viruses like SARS and other biological materials, which may prove very helpful in the battle against epidemics.

Project leaders Zhongwu Chou and Mark Thompson point out that the basic nanotube and nanowire biosensors consist of a piece of synthetic antibody attached to a nanowire that’s attached to an electrical base, immersed in liquid.

If the protein to which the antibody binds is present in the liquid, it will bind to these antibodies, immediately creating a sharply measurable jump in current through the nanowire.

However, according to the researchers, their new design uses two new elements.

Firstly, it takes advantage of bioengineered synthetic antibodies-which are much smaller versions of the natural substances that are designed to bind with a specific protein and only that protein.

And secondly, it uses indium oxide (In2O3) nanowires instead of silicon and other materials previously tried.

The study has shown that unlike silicon, the metal oxides do not develop “an insulating native oxide layer that can reduce sensitivity.”

Thus, the resulting device can detect its target molecules with a sensitivity as great as the best alternative modes, do so more rapidly and without use of chemical reagents.

It is also potentially considerably cheaper than alternatives.

“We believe that nanowire bisensor devices functionalized with engineered proteins … can have important applications ranging from disease diagnosis to homeland security,’ wrote the authors.

The system could be useful in helping to establish certain important parameters for two-part biological systems like the antibody/target protein pair.

The protein the prototype system detects is the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus n-protein, which infected more than 8,000 people in 2002-2003, killing nearly 10 percent of them.

The study has been published in ACSNano. (ANI)

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New approach may pave way for effective HIV vaccine

May 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, May 23 (ANI): Using gene transfer technology, scientists have developed a new approach to overcome the biggest hurdle in the development of an effective HIV vaccine.

The researchers used gene transfer technology, which produces molecules that block infection, to successfully protect monkeys from infection by a virus closely related to HIV-the simian immunodeficiency virus, or SIV-that causes AIDS in rhesus monkeys.

“We used a leapfrog strategy, bypassing the natural immune system response that was the target of all previous HIV and SIV vaccine candidates,” Nature magazine quoted study leader Dr. Philip R. Johnson, chief scientific officer at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, as saying.

Johnson developed the novel approach over a ten-year period, but warned that many hurdles still remain before the technique could be translated into an HIV vaccine for humans.

Most attempts at developing an HIV vaccine have used substances aimed at stimulating the body’s immune system to produce antibodies or killer cells that would eliminate the virus before or after it infected cells in the body. But, the approach has not been proved fruitful until now.

However, the approach used in the current study was divided into two phases-in the first phase, researchers created antibody-like proteins (called immunoadhesins) that were specifically designed to bind to SIV and block it from infecting cells.

After it was proven to work against SIV in the laboratory, DNA representing SIV-specific immunoadhesins was engineered into a carrier virus designed to deliver the DNA to monkeys.

The researchers chose adeno-associated virus (AAV) as the carrier virus because it is a very effective way to insert DNA into the cells of a monkey or human.

In the second part of the study, the team injected AAV carriers into the muscles of monkeys, where the imported DNA produced immunoadhesins that entered the blood circulation.

After a month of administrating the AAV carriers, the immunized monkeys were injected with live, AIDS-causing SIV.

It was found that the majority of the immunized monkeys were completely protected from SIV infection, and all were protected from AIDS, unlike a group of unimmunized monkeys, who were infected by SIV, and two-thirds died of AIDS complications.

“To ultimately succeed, more and better molecules that work against HIV, including human monoclonal antibodies, will be needed,” said Johnson and his co-authors.

The study has appeared in the online version of Nature Medicine. (ANI)

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Popular cancer drug rituximab may lead to oft-fatal viral brain infection

May 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, May 19 (ANI): Scientists are concerned that the popular cancer drug, rituximab, may increase a person’s chances of acquiring an often fatal viral brain infection, known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalitis (PML), which attacks the brain’s white matter.

The worries about this possible harmful effect of rituximab emerged after MRI brain scans and biopsies were conducted on a 57-year-old lawyer in New York and an 83-year-old woman in Chicago, both of whom had been taking the drug before they developed the brain infection.

The two patients are currently part of a new study from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine RADAR project, an international consortium of physicians that collaborate to identify adverse reactions to medications and devices, which is being led by Dr. Charles Bennett.

Knowing more about the suggested link between rituximab and PML is important because, besides its use as a cancer drug, this medicine is also used for treating rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus and autoimmune anaemias.

Bennett has revealed that, from 1997 to 2008, as many as 57 patients with anemia, rheumatoid arthritis or lymphoma developed the fatal brain disease after taking rituximab.

They died an average of two months after being diagnosed, he said.

“Rituximab is one of the most prominent drugs in a new class called monoclonal antibodies. It’s now the third monoclonal antibody that is associated with PML,” added Bennett.

The researcher points out that the brain infection is often overlooked and undiagnosed because it is so subtle at first.

“People may think it’s early Alzheimer’s disease or depression. Many of these patients have cancer and when they die, people assume it’s the cancer that killed them,” he said.

He admitted that it was yet to be found out how rituximab is connected to the brain virus and who might be at risk.

Bennett said that the study results illustrate a need for caution in prescribing rituximab.

“The drug has tremendous usefulness in lymphoma, but as its use expands to diseases that are not cancer, we might have to reconsider the risk benefit. Some cancer patients take this drug chronically for non-fatal chronic leukemia where the risk-benefit calculations differ from lymphoma,” he said.

He suggested if people on rituximab develop any strange neurological symptoms like forgetfulness, disorientation or mood changes, their doctors should be alerted.

A research article on the study has been published in the journal Blood. (ANI)

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New approach may pave way for effective HIV vaccine

May 18, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, May 18 (ANI): Using gene transfer technology, scientists have developed a new approach to overcome the biggest hurdle in the development of an effective HIV vaccine.

Johnson developed the novel approach over a ten-year period, but warned that many hurdles still remain before the technique could be translated into an HIV vaccine for humans.

After it was proven to work against SIV in the laboratory, DNA representing SIV-specific immunoadhesins was engineered into a carrier virus designed to deliver the DNA to monkeys.

The researchers chose adeno-associated virus (AAV) as the carrier virus because it is a very effective way to insert DNA into the cells of a monkey or human.

In the second part of the study, the team injected AAV carriers into the muscles of monkeys, where the imported DNA produced immunoadhesins that entered the blood circulation.

After a month of administrating the AAV carriers, the immunized monkeys were injected with live, AIDS-causing SIV.

“To ultimately succeed, more and better molecules that work against HIV, including human monoclonal antibodies, will be needed,” said Johnson and his co-authors.

The study has appeared in the online version of Nature Medicine. (ANI)

New study warns over pandemic flu vaccine 6-month time lag

May 2, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, April 28 (ANI): It will take at least six months to come up with an effective vaccine in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak, scientists have warned.
Dr Iain Stephenson, Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the Leicester Royal Infirmary and a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Leicester, said that by that time, the first wave of pandemic flu might be over before people are vaccinated.

Stephenson conducted a study to find out if a pre-pandemic vaccine could mitigate the worst effects of pandemic flu.

“This study is the first to show an effective pre-pandemic vaccine approach. This means that we could vaccinate people potentially many years before a pandemic, to generate memory cells that are long lasting and can be rapidly boosted by a single dose of vaccine when needed,” he said.

“If an influenza pandemic occurs, vaccination will to be the main way to protect the population. The major current threat seems to be from avian influenza H5N1 (bird flu) which has spread rapidly around the world and causes human infections and deaths.

“Unfortunately, if a pandemic occurs, it will take up to six months to manufacture effective vaccine, so the first waves of the pandemic may be over before people are vaccinated. Furthermore, most people need two doses of H5 pandemic vaccine to get protection- so this adds a further delay.

“To reduce any delay, we could consider stockpiling vaccine or immunizing people with vaccine prepared in advance -(a so called ‘pre-pandemic vaccine’ – to protect them before a future pandemic.

“However, we don’t know which strain of influenza will cause the pandemic. There are several strains of H5N1 virus, so we can’t be sure of which virus strain to make pre-pandemic vaccine from. Therefore a ‘pre-pandemic’ vaccine needs to give cross protection to as many H5 strains as possible,” he added.

Researchers conducted a study comparing the effect of a single H5 bird flu vaccine dose to people who had been vaccinated with an H5 vaccine previously with people who had not previously received vaccine. The aim was the test out the idea of a pre-pandemic vaccination approach.

“We found that those people who received H5 vaccine between 1999 and 2001 responded very well to a single dose of a newer H5 vaccine. They had memory cells that gave a rapid protective response within 7 days of the repeat vaccine. Also the response was very broad and able to protect against all known strains of H5N1 virus,” Stephenson said.

“In contrast, those people who had not been previously vaccinated with H5 vaccine, behaved as we had expected. They required 2 doses of vaccine and got good antibody responses up to 6 weeks after the first dose,” he added.

Stephenson said that this was the first study to show an effective pre-pandemic vaccine approach.

The study has been published in PNAS- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA. (ANI)

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Why decades-long AIDS vaccine search hasn’t been fruitful

April 23, 2009 By admin 1 Comment

Washington, Apr 23 (ANI): Although research seeking a plausible AIDS vaccine has been going on for decades, scientists have not made a breakthrough till date. Now, researchers have explained why anti-HIV antibodies are ineffective in blocking the deadly infection.

Researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have said that the success has not been achieved in this field partly due to the fact that our body’s natural HIV antibodies simply don’t have a long enough reach to effectively neutralize the viruses they are meant to target.

“This study helps to clarify the obstacles that antibodies face in blocking infection, and will hopefully shed more light on why developing an effective vaccine for HIV has proven so elusive,” said Pamela Bjorkman, the Max Delbruck Professor of Biology at Caltech.

Usually, Y-shaped antibodies are considered ideal to neutralize viruses-i.e., blocking their entry into cells and preventing infection-when both arms of the Y are able to reach out and bind to their target proteins at more or less the same time.

In the case of HIV, antibodies that can block infection target the proteins that stud the surface of the virus, which stick out like spikes from the viral membrane.

However, an antibody can only bind to two spikes at the same time if those spikes fall within its span-the distance the antibody’s structure allows it to stretch its two arms.

“When both arms of an antibody are able to bind to a virus at the same time, there can be a hundred- to thousand fold increase in the strength of the interaction, which can sometimes translate into an equally dramatic increase in its ability to neutralize a virus. Having antibodies with two arms is nature’s way of ensuring a strong binding interaction,” said Joshua Klein, a Caltech graduate student in biochemistry and molecular biophysics and the study’s first author.

But, such double-armed binding is not that easy in case of HIV, according to scientists, who looked at the neutralization capabilities of two different monoclonal antibodies isolated from HIV-infected individuals.
One, called b12, binds a protein known as gp120, which forms the upper portion of an HIV’s protein spike. The other, 4E10, binds to gp41, which is found on a lower portion of the spike known as the stalk.

The researchers broke each of the antibodies down into their component parts and compared their abilities to bind and neutralize the virus and found that one-armed versions of the b12 antibody were less effective at neutralizing HIV than two-armed versions.

After looking at the 4E10 antibody, they found that having two arms conferred almost no advantage over having only one arm and that larger versions of the antibody were less effective than smaller ones.

Thus, vaccines designed to elicit antibodies similar to 4E10 might face many obstacles and the same goes for b12 as well.

On looking more closely at their data, the researchers realised that the benefits of having two arms–even for b12–were much smaller than those seen for antibodies against viruses like influenza.

Thus, the researchers concluded that the body’s natural anti-HIV antibodies are much less effective at neutralizing HIV than they should be.

Klein explained: “The story really starts to get interesting when we think about what the human immunodeficiency virus actually looks like.”

Whereas a single influenza virus’s surface is studded with approximately 450 spikes, the similarly sized HIV may have fewer than 15 spikes.

With spikes so few and far between, finding two that both fall within the reach of a b12 or 4E10 antibody–the spans of which generally measure between 12 and 15 nanometers–becomes much more of a challenge.

“HIV may have evolved a way to escape one of the main strategies our immune system uses to defeat infections. Based on these data, it seems that the virus is circumventing the bivalent effect that is so key to the potency of antibodies,” said Klein.

The findings have been published in the online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). (ANI)

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