Released on = August 16, 2006, 3:58 am

Press Release Author = La Merie Business Intelligence

Industry = Biotech

Press Release Summary = The versatility of the vascular endothelial growth factor
(VEGF) signalling pathway as a validated target and its excellent tractability
explain a crowded field of drugs of all classes

Press Release Body = BARCELONA, Spain | August 16, 2006 | The Business Intelligence
firm La Merie S.L. reported today that the versatility of the validated VEGF and
VEGF-R target and its tractability for all kinds of drug classes has filled the
pipeline of VEGF agonists, VEGF/VEGF-R antagonists and VEGF-R tyrosine kinase (tk)
inhibitors). Apart from antibody-based constructs and novel binding proteins, other
technologies such as small molecules, vaccines, proteins, peptides, gene therapy and
RNAi make use of the validated target in markets with growing attractivity.
Competitor projects are in all stages of development. These results and more were
found in a competitor analysis conducted by La Merie Business Intelligence. The
findings of the search can be acquired at www.pipelinereview.com, La Merie's News
Center and Online Store.

At least seven gene therapy approaches for expression of VEGF are in clinical
development to induce neovascularization in cardiovascular and neurological
indications. The most advanced projects are in mid-stage development and preclinical
followers are about to enter the clinic. Protein approaches to deliver VEGF are
preferred for wound healing and erectile dysfunction.

Pegaptanib sodium has been the first approved anti-VEGF drug for treatment of wet
age-related macular degeneration (AMD), closely followed by the antibody fragment
ranibizumab. Although sales of pegaptanib suffer from off-label use of the anti-VEGF
antibody Avastin, at least four clinical stage and six preclinical stage VEGF- and
VEGF-R antagonist projects are in the pipeline. The competitor projects are small
interfering RNA molecules, DNA, fusion proteins and small molecules and include
improved delivery formats such us sub-tenon injections or application as eye drops.
Apart from wet AMD other ophthalmologic diseases are in development for
VEGF-antagonists to expand the clinical label.

Avastin sales by Genentech and Roche in the first half-year of 2006 were US$ 1.13
bln, 119 % higher than in the corresponding period of 2005, thus representing a
rapidly growing blockbuster market. Clinical stage competitors include antibodies
and binding proteins targeting the VEGF receptors, and fusion proteins, soluble
receptor proteins and RNA targeting VEGF as well as small molecules suppressing VEGF
synthesis. Further at least 14 projects consist of products originating from
technologies such as vaccines, peptides, proteins, siRNA, DNA and antibody-based
constructs. However, the vast majority of competitors for Avastin in oncology are
VEGF-receptor tyrosine kinase (tk) inhibitors. More than 30 small molecule
VEGF-R-inhibitors including selective, dual- and multi-tk inhibitors are in
development, 27 of them in clinical stages.

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About La Merie
La Merie S.L. is a Business Intelligence enterprise fully dedicated to provide high
quality R&D information to the biopharmaceutical industry. La Merie offers
individual consultancy services and publishes reports and periodicals. For more
information visit www.lamerie.com.



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