INVESTORS & MEDIA
News Release
Regeneron and Columbia University Enter Into a Strategic VelocImmune(R) Agreement to Discover Human Monoclonal Antibodies
"Columbia and Regeneron have entered into several research collaborations, where Regeneron has provided valuable research materials to Columbia scientists," said Ofra Weinberger, Director, Office of Science and Technology Ventures, Columbia University. "Now, our investigators are looking forward to gaining access to the VelocImmune platform for creating fully human, therapeutic, monoclonal antibodies."
"VelocImmune is the only antibody platform that allows researchers with limited antibody-production resources to create high affinity, well-expressing, fully human antibodies in their own laboratories," said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., President of Regeneron Research Laboratories. "Participation in the Academic VelocImmune Investigators Program gives university scientists the unique opportunity to translate their research, insights, and discoveries directly into potential antibody therapeutics for the treatment of human diseases. Regeneron is proud to initiate this program with Columbia University, one of the most prominent research institutions in the world, and is planning to expand the program to include other leading universities and research institutes."
About VelocImmune and the Regeneron VelociSuite of Technologies
Regeneron has developed and validated a group of novel technology platforms, known as the VelociSuite of technologies, to improve its ability to develop new product candidates. VelociGene® and VelociMouse are designed to aid in the identification of specific genes of therapeutic interest for a particular disease or cell type and validate targets through high-throughput production of mammalian models. VelocImmune increases the speed and efficiency of fully human, therapeutic, monoclonal antibody development and is currently being used to generate antibodies to address clinically relevant targets of therapeutic interest. The VelocImmune mouse, unlike other hMAb mice, mounts a robust immune response that is virtually indistinguishable from that of a wild type mouse, resulting in a reliable and efficient platform for discovering fully human monoclonal antibodies.
About Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Regeneron is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes medicines for the treatment of serious medical conditions. In addition to ARCALYST® (rilonacept) Injection for Subcutaneous Use, its first commercialized product, Regeneron has therapeutic candidates in clinical trials for the potential treatment of cancer, eye diseases, and inflammatory diseases and has preclinical programs in other diseases and disorders. Additional information about Regeneron and recent news releases are available on Regeneron's web site at www.regeneron.com.
About Columbia University Medical Center
Columbia University Medical Center provides international leadership in basic, pre-clinical and clinical research, in medical and health sciences education, and in patient care. The medical center trains future health care leaders at the College of Physicians & Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. CUMC (www.cumc.columbia.edu) is home to the largest medical research enterprise in New York City and state and one of the largest in the United States. Columbia University's technology transfer organization, Science and Technology Ventures, serves as a bridge between Columbia's researchers and the business community. STV's core objective is to facilitate the transfer of inventions from academic research to outside organizations for the benefit of society on a local, national and global basis. For more information on STV, visit http://www.stv.columbia.edu.
Forward Looking Statement
This news release discusses historical information and includes forward-looking statements about Regeneron and its products, development programs, finances, and business, all of which involve a number of risks and uncertainties, such as risks associated with preclinical and clinical development of Regeneron's drug candidates, determinations by regulatory and administrative governmental authorities which may delay or restrict Regeneron's ability to continue to develop or commercialize its product and drug candidates, competing drugs that are superior to Regeneron's product and drug candidates, uncertainty of market acceptance of Regeneron's product and drug candidates, unanticipated expenses, the availability and cost of capital, the costs of developing, producing, and selling products, the potential for any collaboration agreement, including Regeneron's agreements with the sanofi-aventis Group and Bayer HealthCare, to be canceled or to terminate without any product success, risks associated with third party intellectual property, and other material risks. A more complete description of these and other material risks can be found in Regeneron's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008. Regeneron does not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise unless required by law.
CONTACT: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Investor Relations
914-345-7640
invest@regeneron.com
or
Corporate Communications
Laura Lindsay, 914-345-7800
laura.lindsay@regeneron.com
or
Media Relations
Lauren Tortorete, 212-845-5609
ltortorete@biosector2.com
or
Columbia University Medical Center
CUMC Communications
Susan Craig, 212-305-9746
sc2756@columbia.edu
SOURCE: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.