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BAXTER
AND GLYCOFI TO COLLABORATE ON DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PLATFORM FOR MANUFACTURING
OF HUMAN THERAPEUTIC PROTEINS
DEERFIELD, Ill., and
LEBANON, NH, May 21, 2003 -- Baxter Healthcare Corporation and GlycoFi,
Inc., announced today a research collaboration under which Baxter will
evaluate the potential of using GlycoFi's fungal expression platform for
the production of human therapeutic proteins.
"The production of many human therapeutic proteins involves complex
processes and major capital investments that may limit the ability of
the biotech industry to meet future demands for the production of biopharmaceuticals
in the pipeline," said Norbert Riedel, chief scientific officer at
Baxter. "The advances in manufacturing that GlycoFi's platform presents
could lead to a much more efficient production process for human therapeutic
proteins, offering benefits across many therapeutic categories."
Currently, many therapeutic proteins require the use of mammalian cell
lines in their production process. This process is not only time consuming,
it also takes a significant investment in manufacturing capacity. As part
of this two-year agreement, Baxter and GlycoFi will collaborate on the
development of human therapeutic proteins using GlycoFi's innovative manufacturing
platform, which utilizes yeast and filamentous fungi. This novel production
platform promises to offer a significantly more efficient manufacturing
method. Although fungal expression systems are able to produce human therapeutic
proteins, they are currently unable to replicate the complex sugar structures
that line the outside of many therapeutic proteins (called glycosylation
structures). GlycoFi's innovative technology offers an approach to overcome
this limitation. Under the terms of the agreement, Baxter will provide
up-front and milestone payments to GlycoFi. Specific financial terms of
the agreement were not disclosed.
"A significant production bottleneck exists in the biotech industry,
resulting from the number of therapeutic proteins in development and the
currently limited capacity that exists for manufacturing these proteins
for clinical trials and ultimately, commercialization," said Charles
Hutchinson, chief executive officer at GlycoFi. "We've focused on
overcoming the challenges associated with using fungi in place of mammalian
cells to explore innovative production capabilities that could help address
this bottleneck. We welcome the opportunity to work with a company with
as much manufacturing expertise as Baxter and we look forward to further
exploring the true potential of this unique approach."
Baxter has extensive
expertise in therapeutic protein manufacturing for various therapeutic
uses, including a commonly prescribed treatment for hemophilia A. Baxter
Healthcare Corporation is the principal U.S. operating subsidiary of Baxter
International Inc. (NYSE: BAX). Baxter assists health-care professionals
and their patients with treatment of complex medical conditions, including
cancer, hemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma. The company
applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology
to make a meaningful difference in patients' lives. For more information
about Baxter, please visit www.baxter.com.
GlycoFi, Inc., privately held, was founded in 2000 with the mission of
dramatically improving the capacity and cost of producing human therapeutic
proteins, while simultaneously enhancing their efficacy and safety as
therapeutics. The company harnesses the inherent advantages of yeast and
other fungal-based protein expression systems by engineering these systems
to produce correctly glycosylated human therapeutic proteins, thus greatly
increasing the efficiency, fidelity and scalability at which those proteins
can be made. For more information on GlycoFi, please visit the company's
website at www.glycofi.com.
This news release
contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties,
including technological advances in the medical field, product demand
and market acceptance, the effect of economic conditions, actions of regulatory
bodies, the impact of competitive products and pricing and other risks
detailed in the Baxter's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
These forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions
made by Baxter's management and are believed to be reasonable, though
inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Actual results or experience
could differ materially from the forward-looking statements.
FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
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Media Contacts:
Cindy Resman, Baxter, 847-948-2815
Deborah Spak, Baxter, 847948-2349
Jennifer LaBerge, GlycoFi, 603-643-8186 ext. 122
Joan Kureczka, Kureczka-Martin Associates, 415-821-2413
Investor Contacts:
- Neville Jeharajah,
Baxter, 847-948-2875
Mary Kay Ladone, Baxter, 847-948-3371
Michael Horvath, GlycoFi, 603-643-8186 ext. 106
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