- Collaboration Targets Discovery and Development of Small Molecule Inhibitors of HIV -DURHAM, N.C. and BOULDER, Colo., Jun 3, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Trimeris, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRMS) and Array BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq: ARRY) today
announced the renewal of an agreement to discover small molecule entry
inhibitors directed against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
As part of this renewed agreement, Trimeris will screen small molecule
compounds created by Array against HIV entry inhibitor targets. The terms of
the agreement are substantially similar to those of the initial agreement,
signed in August 2001. Array will be entitled to receive research funding as
well as milestone payments and royalties based on the success of this program.
"Trimeris is pleased to extend the research agreement with Array which
supplements our small molecule research program," commented Dani Bolognesi,
Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer at Trimeris.
"This research agreement provides a valuable opportunity to continue our
search for novel HIV entry inhibitors using Array's platform technologies."
"We are excited about the opportunity to continue our collaboration with
Trimeris to help exploit Trimeris' platform for identifying drugs against
HIV," said Kevin Koch, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer at Array.
"This agreement combines Array's strength in the structural design of novel
small molecule drugs with Trimeris' expertise in developing HIV therapeutics."
About Trimeris, Inc.:
Trimeris, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRMS) is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in
the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutic agents
for the treatment of viral disease. The core technology platform of fusion
inhibition is based on blocking viral entry into host cells. FUZEON(R),
approved in the U.S., Canada and European Union, is the first in a new class
of anti-HIV drugs called fusion inhibitors. Trimeris is developing FUZEON and
future generations of peptide fusion inhibitors in collaboration with
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. For more information about Trimeris, please visit
the Company's website at www.trimeris.com.
About Array BioPharma:
Array BioPharma is creating the next generation of orally active drugs by
integrating the latest advances in chemistry, biology and informatics. Our
drug development pipeline is focused primarily in cancer and inflammatory
disease and includes several promising small molecule drugs that regulate
targets in therapeutically important disease pathways. In addition, Array
collaborates with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to
design, create and optimize drug candidates across a broad range of
therapeutic areas. Our mission is to be the most efficient inventor of high
quality drug candidates in the pharmaceutical industry.
Founded in 1998, Array BioPharma is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado and
employs over 250, including 200 scientists. Array has out-licensed three
proprietary research programs for co-development with AstraZeneca PLC and
Genentech, Inc., and has research collaborations with leading pharmaceutical
and biotechnology companies including AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, GenPath,
InterMune, Roche and Takeda. For more information on Array, please go to
www.arraybiopharma.com.
Trimeris Safe Harbor Statement:
This document and any attachments may contain forward-looking information
about the Company's financial results and business prospects that involve
substantial risks and uncertainties. These statements can be identified by
the fact that they use words such as "expect," "project," "intend," "plan,"
"believe" and other words and terms of similar meaning. Among the factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: there
is uncertainty regarding the success of research and development activities,
regulatory authorizations and product commercializations; the results of our
previous clinical trials are not necessarily indicative of future clinical
trials; and our drug candidates are based upon novel technology, are difficult
and expensive to manufacture and may cause unexpected side effects. For a
detailed description of these factors, see Trimeris' Form 10-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2004 and its periodic reports
filed with the SEC.
Array BioPharma Forward-Looking Statement:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve
significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in our
quarterly report filed on form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, and
in other reports filed by Array with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Because these statements reflect our current expectations concerning future
events, our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in
these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. These factors
include, but are not limited to, our ability to achieve and maintain
profitability, the extent to which the pharmaceutical and biotechnology
industries are willing to collaborate with and fund third parties to
in-license drug candidates for their product pipelines and on their drug
discovery activities, the ability of our collaborators and of Array to meet
drug discovery objectives tied to milestones and royalties, our ability to
continue to fund and successfully progress internal research efforts and to
create effective, commercially viable drugs, and our ability to attract and
retain experienced scientists and management. We are providing this
information as of June 3, 2004. We undertake no duty to update any
forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of events or
circumstances after the date of such statements or of anticipated or
unanticipated events that alter any assumptions underlying such statements.
SOURCE Array BioPharma Inc.
Robin Fastenau or Trimeris, Inc., +1-919-419-6050; or Tricia
Haugeto of Array BioPharma Inc., +1-303-386-1193, thaugeto@arraybiopharma.com
http://www.trimeris.com
