DGAP-News: Germany Leads Europe in the Fight Against Cancer

DGAP-News: MC Services AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous
Germany Leads Europe in the Fight Against Cancer

02.02.2012 / 08:00

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Press Release

Germany Leads Europe in the Fight Against Cancer

– Germany has largest national biotechnology sector focused on cancer in
Europe

– Germany has the greatest number of cancer development programmes in
Europe

– Germany has raised 23% of total European funds for companies with
cancer programmes

Berlin, Germany: 2nd February 2012: German Science Day (GSD) – Fight
Cancer!, announces facts on the German biotechnology cancer research and
drug development sector. Since 2000, European biotechnology companies with
a focus on cancer have raised over $10.5 billion in both venture capital
and public funds. In comparison, German cancer focused biotechnology
companies have raised just over $2.4 billion, 23% of the total for all
European companies with cancer programmes.

In this study, the GSD team looked at the nine countries with the largest
cancer focused biotech sectors – Austria; Denmark; France; Germany: Italy;
Norway; Sweden; Switzerland; and the UK (Nine European Majors). Since 2000
to January 21st 2012, these countries have raised a total $10 billion,
meaning that Germany has raised 24% of these funds.

In terms of cancer drug development in the Nine European Majors, there are
109 companies of which Germany boasts 29, representing 27% of companies
running biotechnology cancer programmes.

Companies and Development Programmes per Country

Country  Cancer     Development    As % of European    As % of Programmes

         Companies  Programmes     Cancer Companies    in Development

Austria  3          5              3                   2

Denmark  8          46             7                   18

France   14         35             13                  14

Germany  29         58             27                  23

Italy    9          37             8                   14

Norway   7          11             6                   4

Sweden   13         23             12                  9

Switz-

erland   7          7              6                   3

UK       19         34             17                  13

Total    109        256

Source: BioCentury Publications Inc&the GSD team

These German companies are running 23% of all biotechnology cancer product
trials in clinical development, representing 58 development programmes out
of a total 256 programmes throughout the Nine European Majors. Germany has
the largest biotechnology sector focused on cancer in Europe.

The mean situation

In mean averages, German cancer focused biotechnology companies have raised
$84 million per company since 2000, while companies in the other Nine
European Majors raised an average of $95.2 million each, in the same
period.

In terms of programmes in development, German companies have raised a mean
average of $42 million per program, while the other eight European
countries have raised $38.5 million per program. The slightly higher mean
average raised in Germany is explained by the advanced stage of the drug
development programmes. Germany is running 28% of the Phase II clinical
programmes and 21% of the Phase III clinical programmes, out of the Nine
European Majors.

The leading position of Germany looks very strong for the next five years,
at least, providing fantastic opportunities for scientists, doctors,
patients and investors, not to mention the German GDP and potential tax
returns to the Federal Republic. Moreover, Germany–s clinical pipeline
certainly addresses important areas of high medical need with novel
approaches and not simply copying current treatment options.

German Cancer Therapy Milestones Aplenty for 2012

– 2012: over 10 German companies are expected to report on clinical and
regulatory events

Berlin, Germany: 2nd February 2012: German Science Day (GSD) – Fight
Cancer!, announces facts on the German biotechnology cancer research and
drug development sector. Over ten, public and private, German companies
with cancer compounds in the clinic are expected to announce clinical
milestone events in 2012. Alongside these, at least three companies are
expecting to begin cancer trials in Phase I, Phase II and Phase II/III
cancer treatments. To date, four further companies are expected to report
clinical data by the end of 2013.

During this quarter, Apogenix AG is expected to announce final Phase II
trial results of APG101, a soluble CD95-Fc fusion protein targeting CD95L,
to treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The trial completed enrolment of 83
patients in September 2011.

Later in 2012, WILEX AG anticipates reporting MESUPRON(R) Phase II trial
data in HER2-negative, metastatic breast cancer patients. WILEX is also
expected to deliver Phase III trial results on RENCAREX(R) to treat clear
cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC).

In Phase III trials, Agennix AG is expected to report in the first half
2012, on Talactoferrin, a recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF) to treat
refractory non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Also, it is anticipated
later this year the company will report on the Phase II/III trials of
Talactoferrin in sepsis.

Among the other presenting companies of the German Science Day several are
expected to announce clinical milestones and updates in 2012: Antisense
Pharma GmbH; MorphoSys AG; Silence Therapeutics AG; Agennix AG; MOLOGEN AG;
and 4SC AG.

In January 4SC AG (FSE:VSC), was handsomely rewarded by investors after the
company reported that resminostat, an oral HDAC inhibitor, met its primary
endpoint in a Phase II SHELTER trial treating hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC) patients. Currently, there is no therapy approved for this patient
population. The company–s shares jumped 48% to EUR2.09 on the week ending
20th January 2012.

In January also, Immatics biotechnologies GmbH, announced positive Phase II
results of IMA901, a novel therapeutic vaccine containing 13
tumour-associated peptides (TUMAPs), to treat advanced colorectal cell
carcinoma (CRC). Data from the study confirmed that IMA910 is able to
stimulate relevant immune responses against the TUMAPS in IMA910 in the
majority of patients vaccinated. Previously in 2011, Immatics had reported
positive Phase II trial results with IMA910 in 61 evaluable patients with
advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Germany Leads Europe with Cancer Fighting Antibody Products in Clinical
Development

– German companies are running 43% of the antibody-based clinical cancer
programmes in Europe

Berlin, Germany: 2nd February 2012: German Science Day (GSD) –
FightCancer!, announces facts on the German biotechnology cancer research
and drug development sector. German biotech companies represent about 47%
of the companies in Europe with antibody-based cancer products in clinical
development. The study also highlighted that these German companies are
running about 43% of the clinical trials in different antibody-based
compounds.

In this study, the GSD team looked at the nine countries with the largest
cancer focused biotech sectors with companies developing cancer products:
Austria; Denmark; France; Germany: Italy; Norway; Sweden; Switzerland; and
the UK.

The most advanced German companies include: Apogenix AG; Affimed
Therapeutics AG; Biotest AG; Trion Pharma GmbH; Glycotope GmbH; MorphoSys
AG and WILEX AG.

Specific indications covered by these German products range through:
Multiplemyeloma (MM); gastric cancer; ovarian cancer; breast cancer; B
cell lymphoma; oesophageal cancer; and unspecified solid tumours. The
majority of these companies will seek partnerships at the proof of concept
stage to share the risk and reward of further development and potential
marketing approvals throughout the world.

For further information:

MC Services AG
Schubertstr. 10
D-80336 München

Nicole Neumeyr
Tel: +49 89 210 228 11
nicole.neumeyr@german-science-day.de

Caroline Bergmann
Tel: +49 89 210 228 20
caroline.bergmann@german-science-day.de

About the German Science Day

The inaugural German Science Day takes place on February 2nd 2012 in
Berlin. The event provides a comprehensive insight into new therapeutic
approaches in cancer and presents the current state of development of
promising, innovative drug candidates. Additionally, the day will look at
the many upcoming clinical events in Germany during 2012.

End of Corporate News

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02.02.2012 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP – a
company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

DGAP–s Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
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Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de

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