News Release
ZymoGenetics Adds Interleukin-21 (IL-21) to Its Product Development Pipeline
October 9, 2002
IL-21 to be highlighted in the company's presentation at the UBS Warburg Global Life Sciences Conference, scheduled for Wednesday, October 9, 2002 at 2:00 pm (EDT)
SEATTLE, Wash., Oct 9, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- ZymoGenetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZGEN) announced today that it has designated Interleukin-21 (IL-21) as its fourth product candidate for clinical development. IL-21 is a novel protein that regulates a variety of cell types that include cytotoxic T-cells and natural killer cells, cell types involved in the body's ability to fight diseases, including certain cancers. The company anticipates filing an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for IL-21 in the first half of 2004.
"ZymoGenetics' advancement of IL-21 into preclinical development reflects our strategy to develop and market novel proteins coming from our internal research engine," commented Bruce L.A. Carter, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of ZymoGenetics. "We have retained all commercialization rights for IL-21 within North America and licensed the rights to commercialize IL-21 in the rest of the world to Novo Nordisk A/S, a Danish biopharmaceutical company."
"By activating cytotoxic T-cells and natural killer cells, IL-21 may enhance the body's ability to defend itself against cancer," stated Jan Ohrstrom, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at ZymoGenetics. "Animal efficacy studies suggest that IL-21 has potential therapeutic utility against a wide variety of tumors, since IL-21 does not need to act directly on the cancer cells to be effective. Our initial intent is to target metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. However, due to IL-21's mechanism of action, we believe that this protein could be an effective therapy against many types of cancers, both as a stand alone compound, and as adjuvant therapy to current cancer treatments, which act directly on the tumor."
Background on Interleukin-21
IL-21 is a member of the four-alpha-helix bundle cytokine family of secreted proteins. This class of molecules includes many of the most significant therapeutic proteins developed to date, including granulocyte colony stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, erythropoietin, growth hormone, interferon alpha and interferon beta. While these proteins share a common secondary and tertiary structure, the biological properties associated with the members of this family are extremely varied. This has led to their clinical use across a diverse set of therapeutic areas.
Webcast of UBS Warburg Presentation
Bruce L.A. Carter, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of ZymoGenetics will be highlighting IL-21 in his presentation at the UBS Warburg Global Life Sciences Conference at The Plaza Hotel, New York City. Dr. Carter will speak at 2:00 pm (EDT) on Wednesday, October 9, 2002.
A live audio webcast of the presentation can be accessed at the UBS Warburg website at www.ubswarburg.com by going to the Events and Conferences box.
It is recommended that listeners log into the webcast prior to the start in order to download any software that may be required. The webcast will be archived on the company website for several days after the presentation.
About ZymoGenetics ZymoGenetics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic proteins for the prevention or treatment of human diseases. Using a product discovery engine, comprising genomics, bioinformatics, protein chemistry and preclinical biology, ZymoGenetics has generated a broad pipeline of proprietary product candidates. ZymoGenetics intends to commercialize these product candidates through internal development, collaborations with biopharmaceutical partners, and out- licensing of its extensive patent portfolio. For further information, visit www.zymogenetics.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on the current intent and expectations of the management of ZymoGenetics. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. ZymoGenetics' actual results and the timing and outcome of events may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements because of risks associated with our unproven discovery strategy, preclinical and clinical development, regulatory oversight, intellectual property claims and litigation and other risks detailed in the company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.
Contact:
Charles E. Hart, Ph.D.
Sr. Director, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
ZymoGenetics, Inc.
(206) 442-6744
www.zymogenetics.com
Karla MacDonald
Vice President
Feinstein Kean Healthcare
(617) 577-8110
www.fkhealth.com
SOURCE ZymoGenetics, Inc.
URL: http://www.zymogenetics.com
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Copyright (C) 2002 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.
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"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding ZymoGenetics Inc.'s business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.