The News

Cerenis Therapeutics announces license agreement with Nippon Chemiphar to develop new therapies based on PPAR Delta Agonist

30/08/2005

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA & Tokyo, Japan, August 30, 2005 - Cerenis Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company working to develop novel HDL therapies, has entered into a license agreement with Nippon Chemiphar Co., Ltd., to develop new small molecule therapies based on PPAR (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor) delta agonists.

PPAR delta agonists have been shown to play a role in elevating levels of HDL, also known as the body’s “good cholesterol.” Under the terms of the agreement, Cerenis will have access to a broad range of PPAR delta agonists for use in research and development of HDL therapies with the potential to help reduce cholesterol buildup through a natural process known as reverse lipid transport.

“PPAR delta agonists represent a very promising area of research that could lead to novel oral HDL therapies in the years ahead.  This agreement positions Cerenis to move forward in this area of research, which represents an important complement to our other HDL-focused research and product development initiatives,” said Dr. Jean-Louis Dasseux, president and chief executive officer, Cerenis Therapeutics.

“We anticipate close collaboration between the companies and are looking forward to the prospect of identifying and developing first in class small molecule HDL therapies from our patented compounds,” said Mr. Kazushiro Yamaguchi, president and chief executive officer, Nippon Chemiphar.

Nippon Chemiphar will retain development and marketing rights in Asia for any new product candidates developed through this licensing agreement.  Cerenis will be granted exclusive development and commercialization rights in the United States, Europe and other markets outside Asia.  Cerenis will make milestone payments of up to US$30 million to Chemiphar during the research and development stage and will make royalty payments based on sales, after marketing.

About Cerenis Therapeutics

Cerenis Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of breakthrough HDL-related therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.  Cerenis is pursuing a range of HDL product candidates that reflect breakthrough research in HDL therapy and significant commercial opportunities in the treatment of atherosclerosis. The Cerenis management team includes world leaders in HDL therapy research and development.  The company has operations in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Toulouse, France. For further information please visit the company website at: www.cerenis.com.
 

About Nippon Chemiphar Co., Ltd.

Nippon Chemiphar is a Japanese pharmaceutical company listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The company develops and markets new chemical entities (NCEs) as NSAID and antihypertensives. The company focuses on drug discovery in a number of the fields, including orthopedics and urology, and is interested in working with other pharmaceutical companies to accelerate development and commercialization. With its depth of expertise in drug discovery, Chemiphar strategically focuses on identifying drug leads for further development. Chemiphar's current R&D is focused on analgesics, therapies for life-style diseases, and hyperuricemia, which is recognized as an increasingly important clinical condition in Japan. With a view to accelerating commercialization, Chemiphar is speeding up development and candidate screening of its compounds, and their licensing overseas. Given its venture-based drug research, Chemiphar is seeks licensing opportunities so that it might more quickly bring its pharmaceuticals to the global market. For further information, please visit: http://www.chemiphar.co.jp/.

 
Cerenis Contact Information:

Europe:
Northbank Communications Ltd
Sue Charles, CEO
s.charles@northbankcommunications.com
Dr Christelle Kerouedan, French Enquiries
c.kerouedan@northbankcommunications.com
Tel: +44 (0)20 7886 8150

USA:
Berry & Company Public Relations
Sarah Datz
Tel: (212) 253-8881
sdatz@berrypr.com

 
Nippon Chemiphar Contact Information:
Ms. Yuko Doi, public relations department
Nippon Chemiphar Co., Ltd.
y-doi@chemiphar.co.jp
or
http://www.chemiphar.co.jp