Bioniche & Trophogen Sign Exclusive Global Veterinary License Agreement for Superagonist Hormone Technology Platform
- provides a platform of next generation reproductive products for Bioniche Animal Health -
BELLEVILLE, ON and ROCKVILLE, MD, June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (TSX: BNC), a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, together with Trophogen Inc., a U.S.-based biotechnology company, today announced the signing of an exclusive global veterinary license agreement between the two companies. The agreement provides commercial access for Bioniche to a patented, proprietary superagonist hormone technology platform developed by Trophogen (originally licensed from the National Institutes of Health) in the growing veterinary fields. For the past 12 months, Bioniche has been evaluating the technology in field situations and has gained confidence in its capabilities in reproductive enhancement.
This technology will initially be developed into a next generation follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The Company's current FSH product, Folltropin(R)-V, is a global market leader. Folltropin-V is used to superovulate reproductively mature cattle.
Bioniche also holds an Option to license additional veterinary reproductive products utilizing Trophogen's superagonist hormone technology.
"This is an exciting collaboration," said Dr. Dragan Rogan, Chief Veterinary Scientific Officer at Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. "The Trophogen technology is the most advanced recombinant hormone technology available today, and Bioniche is privileged to have the rights to co-develop numerous new veterinary products with the talented research team at Trophogen."
"This agreement is an important step in the development of novel superactive gonadotropin analogs for veterinary markets, leveraging complementary strengths of the two companies in research, preclinical and clinical studies," said Dr. Mariusz Szkudlinski, Vice-President for R&D at Trophogen. Dr. Bruce Weintraub, President of Trophogen commented, "It is very gratifying for Trophogen to partner with Bioniche, a world renowned leader in veterinary reproduction, to develop its recombinant superagonist technology for this market."
About Superagonist Hormone Technologies
Trophogen's novel platform technology consists of substituting amino acids in recombinant gonadotropins and related cystine knot growth factors to enhance electrostatic interactions with the receptor. It has previously described the first superactive analogs of gonadotropins and related glycoprotein hormones that greatly increase receptor binding activity as well as in vitro and in vivo potency. These analogs also show superior pharmacokinetic properties as a result of delayed absorption. More information is available at www.trophogen.com.
About Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.
Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. is a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of proprietary products for human and animal health markets worldwide. The fully-integrated company employs approximately 200 skilled personnel and has three operating divisions: Human Health, Animal Health, and Food Safety. The Company's primary goal is to develop proprietary cancer therapies supported by revenues from marketed products in human and animal health. For more information, please visit www.Bioniche.com.
About Trophogen Inc.
Trophogen, Inc. is a U.S.-based biotechnology company founded in 2001 with series A funding from Toucan Capital, focusing on the development of high affinity glycoprotein hormone and related growth factor analogs for human and animal infertility as well as targeted therapy and imaging of thyroid, ovarian, breast, prostate and testicular cancers. Trophogen was formed by two molecular endocrinologists who spent numerous years as academicians at the National Institutes of Health and the University of Maryland before striking out on their own to launch their first entrepreneurial endeavor.
Except for historical information, this news release may contain forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events. These forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, which may cause, but are not limited to, changing market conditions, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the establishment of corporate alliances, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's ongoing quarterly and annual reporting.