Grant will support clinical manufacturing and biomarker program.
Apogenix received a €2.3 million (over $2.99 million) German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) grant to support continued clinical development of its lead fusion protein candidate, APG101. The latest award means Apogenix has obtained over €8 million (about $10.42 million) in Federal funding in support of its therapeutic programs since 2007.
The €2.3 million award will be used for the production of clinical material and progression of a biomarker program relating to development of APG101 for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The fully human soluble fusion protein is already in Phase II development for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
“We firmly believe that the therapeutic potential of APG101 goes far beyond the treatment of GBM and that we have a realistic chance to show proof-of-concept in a Phase II trial planned for 2013,” comments Thomas Höger, Ph.D., Apogenix’ CEO and CFO.
Apogenix is developing protein therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases based on either the targeted modulation of apoptosis or on blocking tumor cell invasion. APG101 combines the extracellular domain of the CD95-receptor and the Fc-portion of IgG. In development initially for the treatment of GBM, AOG101 has also undergone Phase I trials for potential applications against graft versus host disease. The firm’s preclinical programs are focused on the development of IL-4-blocking fusion proteins for the treatment of solid tumors.
