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| February 28th 2006 : ImQuest Pharmaceuticals Licenses Entire Series of Anti-HIV Therapeutic Compounds from Samjin Pharmaceutical Co. |
Frederick, MD. February 28, 2006 – ImQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Frederick, MD, United States) announced today the licensing of the entire pyrimidinedione series of anti-HIV compounds discovered and patented by Samjin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. ImQuest plans to develop the lead inhibitor in this series as a front-line therapy for HIV infection. The pyrimidinediones are unique compounds that posess two highly effective mechanisms of action against HIV; inhibition of reverse transcriptase (RT), and inhibition of virus entry into target cells. In preclinical evaluations, the lead compound IQP-0410 (SJ-3366) is among the most potent anti-HIV compound studied thus far and is being evaluated in advanced preclinical studies. ImQuest expects to file an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) with the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2006. According to the terms of the licensing agreement, ImQuest Pharmaceuticals will provide complete preclinical and clinical drug development support for these 68 molecules. Additionally, ImQuest BioSciences has initiated evaluations of these compounds for efficacy against other infectious disease organisms.
Samjin Pharmaceutical Co., a publicly held company listed on the Korean Stock Exchange, is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Korea with projected sales for 2005 estimated at 120 Million USD. ImQuest Pharmaceuticals, a privately held U.S. company located in Frederick, Maryland specializes in early stage drug development of novel compounds for the treatment of infectious disease and cancer.
“After extensive preclinical evaluations which have demonstrated significant potency and lack of toxicity of IQP-0410, we believe that the pyrimidinediones may become a front line therapy in the fight against HIV, combining the potency of the RT inhibitor Sustiva® with the entry inhibitory capacity of Fuzeon® in one simple molecule,” said Robert W. Buckheit, Jr., PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer at ImQuest Pharmaceuticals. “This HIV drug development program is the first of many anti-infective products that we envision as part of our strategic drug development alliance with Samjin Pharmaceuticals.” ImQuest and Samjin announced the strategic relationship last month, merging Samjin’s medicinal chemistry expertise with ImQuest’s preclinical and clinical development capabilities.
About ImQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
ImQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a leading developer of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of infectious diseases, cancer and inflammation. The ImQuest focus is to develop novel therapeutic agents which target under-explored disease pathways, develop molecules with highly unique properties that enhance drug potency and develop highly potent topical microbicides for the inhibition of sexually transmitted disease. ImQuest’s lead candidates for HIV therapy and microbicide treatment are in late stage preclinical development. It is expected that the company will initiate clinical testing on three infectious disease treatments in 2006. More information about ImQuest Pharmaceuticals can be found at the company’s website at www.imquest.com and www.imquestpharma.com.
About Samjin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
Established in 1968, Samjin Pharmaceutical Co. is dedicated to the manufacture, distribution and marketing of novel pharmaceuticals. To achieve their mission, Samjin strives for the continuous development of excellent medical products by securing superior intelligence, acquiring the latest tools and materials and utilizing advanced scientific information and technology. These efforts have lead to numerous international patents covering antiviral, anticancer, and metabolic candidate compounds. The company has recently expanded their scope to include stem cell research and the active pursuit of diabetic treatments. More information about Samjin Pharmaceutical Co., their technology, products, and services can be found at the company’s web site at www.samjinpharm.co.kr/eng/company/com |
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| October 20th 2005 : ImQuest Pharmaceuticals and Samjin Pharmaceutical Co. Form Strategic Drug Development Alliance |
Frederick, MD. October 20, 2005 – ImQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Frederick, MD, United States) announced today the formation of a strategic drug development alliance with Samjin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.. According to the terms of the agreement, ImQuest Pharmaceuticals will provide complete preclinical and clinical drug development support for therapeutic small molecules discovered by Samjin Pharmaceutical Co..
Samjin Pharmaceutical Co., a publicly held company listed on the Korea Stock Exchange, is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Korea with projected sales for 2005 estimated at USD 120 Million. ImQuest Pharmaceuticals, a privately held U.S. company, is the newest addition to the ImQuest family of companies.
“This relationship merges the significant individual strengths of both companies,” commented Jerry Cartright, ImQuest Pharmaceuticals’ CEO. “Samjin’s medicinal chemistry team will provide new entities that will be developed using ImQuest’s preclinical and clinical development expertise. Initially, our efforts will be focused on the rapid development of novel infectious disease and cancer agents.”
About ImQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
ImQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a leading developer of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of infectious disease, cancer and inflammatory disease. Founded in 2005 ImQuest’s mission is to develop novel therapeutic agents which target under-explored disease pathways and biochemical or molecular targets, to develop molecules with highly unique properties that enhance drug potency, and to develop highly potent topical microbicides for the inhibition of sexually transmitted disease. ImQuest’s lead candidates for HIV therapy and microbicide treatment are in late preclinical development. It is expected that the company will initiate clinical testing on three infectious disease targeted agents in 2006. More information about ImQuest Pharmaceuticals can be found at the company’s website at www.imquestpharma.com.
About Samjim Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
Established in 1968, Samjim Pharmaceutical Co. is dedicated to the manufacture, distribution and marketing of novel pharmaceuticals. To achieve their mission – protection of the dignity of a human life and elimination of the causes of human disease - Samjin Pharmaceutical Co. strives for the continuous development of excellent medical products by securing superior intelligence, acquiring the latest tools and materials, and utilizing advanced scientific information and technology. These efforts have lead to numerous international patents and lead antiviral, anticancer, and metabolic candidate compounds. The company has recently expanded their scope to include stem cell research and the active pursuit of diabetic treatments. More information about Samjin Pharmaceutical Co., their technology, products, and services can be found at the company’s web site at www.samjinpharm.co.kr/eng/company/com |
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| ImQuest News |
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Dr. Robert Buckheit has been named to head the Program Committee for the 2008 International Conference on Antiviral Research to be held in Montreal, Canada. Dr. Buckheit will be responsible for the organization of the 2008 meeting and is currently hard at work on the selection of plenary speakers and symposium sessions. This years meetng will feature a session on the development of inhibitors to novel HIV targets. |
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Dr. Robert Buckheit (PI) and ImQuest have received a Phase 2 SBIR from the NIH to continue the development of the pyrimidinedione anti-HIV compounds as topical microbicides. The Phase 2 award will be performed in collaboration with Patrick Kiser at The University of Utah who will be working on the development of a formulated topical microbicide product. |
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A manuscript authored by Robert Buckheit, Tracy Hartman and Karen Watson has been accepted for publication in Antiviral Chemistry and Chemotherapy. This work details the structure activity relationships among the pyrimidinedione HIV inhibitors.
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ImQuest announces the successful completion of the first development milestone in their work with International Partnership for Microbicides and progression to advanced toxicology and formulation studies for development of the pyrimidinedione topical microbicides.
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ImQuest announces the initiation of studies supported by The International partnership for Microbicides to develop the viral inactivating NCp7 inhibitors as potential topical microbicides. |
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ImQuest staff will be attending the DART-Hepatitis meeting in December 2007. |
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Dr. Robert Buckheit has been nominated to the position of President of the International Society for Antiviral Research (ISAR). Results of the election will be delivered at the ICAR annual meeting in Puerto Rico May 7-11, 2006. |
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ImQuest BioScience’s staff will be presenting three abstracts at the International Conference on Antiviral Research (ICAR) being held in Puerto Rico, May 7-11, 2006. Tracy Hartman, Karen Watson and Bob Buckheit will be presenting ImQuest data demonstrating the efficacy of topical microbicides. |
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ImQuest announces the formation of a strategic drug development alliance with Samjin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ltd. Of Seoul KOREA as well as the licensing of the entire pyrimidinedione series of agents for HIV therapy. |
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ImQuest announces the licensing of ISIS 5320 from ISIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for development as a anti-HIV topical microbicide. |
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ImQuest staff will be attending the American Society of Microbiology General Meeting in Orlando and the American Association of Pharmaceutical Science Biotechnology meeting in Boston this summer. |
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| Testimonals & Accomplishments |
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IND submitted by The Procter & Gamble Company for human testing of FB632 for HIV infection. ImQuest preclinical data was included as part of an IND submitted by The Procter & Gamble Company for human testing of FB632 in HIV infected patients. The FB632 clinical trial was the tenth product tested by ImQuest scientists that has entered human clinical trials. |
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Dr. Robert Buckheit works with The University of Arizona and Samjin Pharmaceuticals to license anti-HIV and anti-HCV molecules. Dr. Buckheit has provided scientific support on behalf of The University of Arizona and Samjin Pharmaceuticals in order to assist in the licensing of their inhibitors for HIV and HCV treatment. Development efforts with the SJ compounds (SJ-3366), FB 632 and PG301029 continue |
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Successful collaborations with Purdue University, University of Utah and Volgograd State Medical University. A wide variety of manuscripts have been published based on the synthetic chemistry efforts of Mark Cushman of Purdue University, Arthur Broom of the University of Utah and Alexander Ozerov and Mikhail Novikov of the Volgograd State Medical University (Russia) in which ImQuest antiviral screening data was utilized. |
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Expanding methodology for evaluating fitness and replication capacity of drug resistant viruses. ImQuest scientists have continued to expand their capabilities for evaluating antiviral drug resistance and viral fitness, using highly sensitive methodology to assess the effects of mutations on fitness and replication capacity while defining compensatory mutations. Several posters were presented at the recent ICAR meeting ( Tucson AZ) on this subject. |
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| R & D News of Interest |
Look For ImQuest Staff at the Following Upcoming Conferences |
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International Conference on Antiviral Research (Puerto Rico, May 2006) |
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American Society of Microbiology General Meeting (Orlando, May 2006) |
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Bridging the Sciences-HIV, HBV and HCV (Paris, France, May 2006) |
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American Association for Pharmaceutical Sciences-Biotechnology (Boston, June 2006) |
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Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (San Francsico, September 2006) |
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DART-HIV (December 2006) |
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| Copyright © 2006, ImQuest BioSciences. | | | |
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