SynCo Bio Partners to Manufacture Syntaxin's SXN101959 Novel Drug for Treatment of Acromegaly

AMSTERDAM, May 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SynCo Bio Partners B.V., one of the leading GMP contract manufacturers of biopharmaceuticals, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Syntaxin to produce its novel drug candidate SXN101959. Syntaxin, a biotechnology company specialising in innovative biopharmaceutical therapies for cell secretion control, is developing SXN101959 for the therapeutic treatment of Acromegaly as a primary indication. Under the agreement, SynCo will assist Syntaxin in scale-up and manufacture of multiple batches of bulk drug substance and drug product of SXN101959 for non-clinical, phase-I and phase-II clinical trials.

In Acromegaly, hypersecretion of growth hormone usually occurs from a benign pituitary tumour. Current first line therapy is the use of somatostatins, to reduce secretion; however, up to 60% of patients are refractory to this treatment so there is a significant unmet need for new products. Syntaxin's Targeted Secretion Inhibitors (TSI) mechanism of action provides a unique and potentially superior approach to the inhibition of growth hormone release.

Pierre Warffemius, CEO of SynCo Bio Partners, commented: "SynCo is pleased to be working with Syntaxin on the manufacture of SXN101959 for the treatment of Acromegaly. We aim to establish a long-term relationship with Syntaxin to support its unique TSI platform and expanding product portfolio, by providing high quality manufacturing and filling services."

Dr Melanie Lee, CEO of Syntaxin, commented: "SynCo's manufacturing capability provides us with the means to rapidly move SXN101959 through to phase-I clinical trials in Acromegaly. Progress of SXN101959 towards the clinic follows a recent announcement that our partnered molecule AGN-214868, has entered phase-II clinical trials in post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) as a primary indication." Dr Lee added, "These molecules demonstrate the enormous potential of the platform to generate new treatments for a range of diseases. Aberrant secretion underpins many aspects of cancer, inflammatory, endocrine and gastro-intestinal diseases."

About SynCo Bio Partners B.V.

SynCo Bio Partners B.V. is a biopharmaceutical GMP Contract Manufacturing Organization located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, licensed for clinical and commercial GMP manufacturing of Bulk Drug Substances and Drug Products. As a truly global player, SynCo offers a fully integrated range of biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing services supporting small biotech to large pharmaceutical organizations worldwide from the earliest stages in process development, through pre-clinical and clinical trials, biologic license approval and market supply. For more information, please visit http://www.syncobiopartners.com

About Syntaxin

Syntaxin discovers and develops a new class of biopharmaceuticals which treat disease through selective inhibition of cell secretory processes. It is developing cell secretion inhibitors for the treatment of a range of endocrine diseases, including Acromegaly.

Syntaxin was founded in late 2005 through a spinout of intellectual property and scientists from the Health Protection Agency, and benefits from 15 years of research in the field of bacterial toxin engineering. The company owns dominant patents and know how in the design, manufacture and use of novel cell TSI based on engineered botulinum toxins. It has established a strong IP base with over 50 granted patents covering the platform and products. It is backed by strong investor base including: Abingworth, Lundbeckfond Ventures, LSP, Ipsen, JJDC, Quest, Seventure, and SR One.