The News

Endotis Pharma forms a strategic alliance with Catalent Pharma Solutions for the development of oral formulations of synthetic oligosaccharides and initiates preclinical development of EP37151, a first in-class oral anticoagulant

02/11/2009

Parc Biocitech, Paris (France), November 2nd, 2009 - Endotis Pharma, a specialty biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of synthetic oligosaccharides (small-glyco drugs) in thrombosis and cancer, today announced the formation of a strategic alliance with Catalent Pharma Solutions (a worldwide leader in pharmaceutical technologies and services). The two companies will collaborate exclusively to develop certain oral formulations of small-glyco drugs and are now focusing on the preclinical development of Endotis' EP37151 compound.

EP37151 is a first in-class oral synthetic oligosaccharide anticoagulant which, as an indirect factor Xa inhibitor, acts via antithrombin activation. The companies expect to initiate a Phase I clinical trial program during the second quarter of 2010.

Maurice Petitou PhD, Head of Pre-Clinical Research and Development at Endotis Pharma, commented: "Since the initiation of our collaboration with Catalent, we have obtained exciting and self-consistent results on the oral administration of small-glyco drugs. Today, we are delighted to initiate preclinical studies with our first oral anticoagulant. The oral formulation of synthetic oligosaccharides is a major breakthrough that will allow us to fully exploit the therapeutic potential of small-glyco drugs which, to date, have only been administered intravenously or subcutaneously.”

Charles Woler, Endotis Pharma's Chairman and CEO, added: "This collaboration exemplifies how companies can innovate by combining complementary expertise and know-how in drug development. Endotis is providing its unique knowledge of oligosaccharide drug design and chemistry, while Catalent is a worldwide leader in oral formulation and drug manufacturing. The technology developed with Catalent is a major step forward for Endotis and will unlock therapeutic indications for our small-glyco drugs in thrombosis and other therapeutic areas. This alliance consolidates Endotis' status as a worldwide leader in small-glyco drug development.

He concluded by saying that “EP37151 is the first oral anticoagulant to come out of this collaboration; additional innovative, neutralizable oral anticoagulants are expected to enter development next year”.

About Endotis Pharma
Endotis Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of small-glyco drugs (heparin/heparan sulfate mimetics) in thrombosis, oncology and a range of other indications. The value of this platform has been demonstrated by Endotis' breakthrough thrombosis franchise of parenteral and oral drugs in clinical and preclinical development and a promising oncology pipeline. Endotis has 35 employees based in Paris and Lille (France).

Disclaimer: The development of new drug technologies is difficult, erratic and unpredictable. Endotis Pharma’s forecasts and future economic performance depend on research that has yet to be performed and on a number of other factors. The company's future economic performance may differ significantly from that currently forecast.

For more information:
Press contact: Alize RP
Caroline Carmagnol
+33 (0)6 64 18 99 59
caroline@alizerp.com
Juliette Vandenbroucque
+ 33 (0)1 41 22 07 32
juliette@alizerp.com
Investor contact: Endotis Pharma
Charles Woler, Chairman and CEO
charleswoler@endotis.com
Stéphane Degove, Head of Finance
stephanedegove@endotis.com
+33 (0)1 48 46 84 87