Released on: January 7, 2008, 11:01 am

Press Release Author: GTCBIO

Industry: Pharmaceuticals

Press Release Summary: Shelia Violette, Director of Discovery Immunology at
Biogen-Idec will give a presentation entitled "The Alphavbeta6 Integrin: A Mediator
of TGF-Beta Activation and Therapeutic Target in Fibrosis and Oncology" at GTCbio's
6th Cytokines and Inflammation (January 28-29, 2008, Orlando, Florida.

Press Release Body: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 26, 2007


Biogen-Idec to Present at GTCbio's 6th Cytokines and Inflammation (January 28-29,
2008, Orlando, Florida

Shelia Violette, Director of Discovery Immunology at Biogen-Idec will give a
presentation entitled "The Alphavbeta6 Integrin: A Mediator of TGF-Beta Activation
and Therapeutic Target in Fibrosis and Oncology" at GTCbio's 6th Cytokines and
Inflammation (January 28-29, 2008, Orlando, Florida.

The avb6 integrin is expressed at low levels in healthy adult tissue and
significantly upregulated, mainly on epithelial cells, in fibrotic disease and
carcinomas. avb6 binds and activates the latent precursor form of TGF-b and
mediates interactions with matrix proteins. TGF-b is central to the initiation and
maintenance of fibrosis, a pathological process marked by the replacement of
diseased tissue with excess extracellular matrix and ultimately leading to organ
scarring and failure. This cytokine is also implicated in promoting tumor
progression, and metastases. Biogen-Idec evaluated avb6 expression in human disease
and in preclinical animal models. avb6 is highly upregulated in lung and kidney
disease associated with fibrotic pathology, and in liver disease associated with
acute biliary duct injury. It is also highly upregulated in squamous cell
carcinomas and metastatic lesions, with expression often predominant at the
tumor-stromal interface reflecting a unique mechanism for localized TGF-b activation
promoting tumor growth and invasion. Biogen-Idec generated potent and selective
blocking avb6 antibodies, and tested their ability to inhibit fibrosis and tumor
progression in animal models. These antibodies have potent anti-fibrotic activity
and inhibit tumor progression in multiple models of disease. A lead clinical
candidate antibody has been selected and humanized. Biogen-Idec findings support a
role for avb6 in fibrosis and tumor progression and the potential for therapeutic
intervention with a function blocking antibody. This approach provides an
opportunity to locally inhibit TGF-b and minimize the potential for tumor promoting
and pro-inflammatory activity that may be associated with systemic blockade of the
TGF-b pathway.

The conference also features presentations from other leading organizations such as
Amgen, AstraZeneca, FDA, Genentech, Merck, NIH, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Roche,
Schering Plough, and many more. The full agenda is available online at
www.gtcbio.com.

GTCbio's 6th Cytokines and Inflammation conference will take place on January 28-29,
2008 at the Orlando Metropolitan Resort in Orlando, Florida and will cover Cytokines
Signaling and Regulation, Inflammation and Cancer, Technological Developments in
Cytokines Biology, Chemokines, and Targeting of Cytokine Receptors

For more information including a detailed agenda, exhibitor opportunities and
registration information visit http://gtcbio.com/userAgenda.aspx?id=115


ABOUT GTCbio

GTCbio organizes conferences specifically for the biomedical and biopharmaceutical
industries. Our goal is to facilitate the exchange of biopharmaceutical and
biomedical intelligence between industry leaders, academic and government
organizations, and the financial community.

GTCbio is a subsidiary of Global Technology Community, LLC, a privately held company
founded in 2002.

Contact: GTCBIO (626) 256-6405, (626) 256-6460 fax, raniah@gtcbio.com


Web Site: http://

Contact Details: Contact: GTCBIO (626) 256-6405, (626) 256-6460 fax, raniah@gtcbio.com