-data presented at the International Congress on Animal Reproduction in Vancouver, B.C.-
BELLEVILLE, ON, July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (TSX: BNC) (ASX: BNC), a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, today shared preliminary data on an in-licensed superagonist hormone technology in bovine proof of concept studies. This technology was developed by Trophogen Inc., a U.S.-based biotechnology company. Bioniche signed an exclusive global veterinary license agreement with Trophogen in June, 2010.
Several analogs produced with this recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) technology have been tested over the past two years, and one has proven to be highly efficacious in the induction of multiple ovulations. A superovulatory response was induced with a single dose in beef cows treated three times consecutively.
More studies are required to determine the optimal dosage of the technology both in beef and dairy cattle, and to determine the long-term effects of treating consecutively with rFSH more than three times.
"These data are very encouraging," said Mr. Graeme McRae, President & CEO of Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., "Trophogen has developed a clearly superior recombinant FSH technology which will, over the coming years, be developed into a synthetic product containing no material of animal origin. No other animal health company has been able to successfully develop such a product."
The Company's current FSH product, Folltropin®-V, is a global market leader. Folltropin®-V is used to superovulate reproductively mature cattle. However, this product is derived from animal origin materials, and the recombinant FSH technology represents the next generation of this important intervention.
"Recombinant technology is the important next step in the production of protein hormones for use in cattle," said Dr. Reuben Mapletoft, Distinguished Professor, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. "This process completely eliminates the potential for contamination with infectious agents and provides for a safe and highly consistent product. The efficacy of the Trophogen technology is very gratifying for those of us who have worked with it and provides for exciting possibilities for the future application of assisted reproductive technologies in cattle."
About Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.
Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. is a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of proprietary and innovative products for human and animal health markets worldwide. The fully-integrated company employs more than 200 skilled personnel and has three operating divisions: Human Health, Animal Health, and Food Safety. The Company's primary goal is to develop and commercialize products that advance human or animal health and increase shareholder value.
Bioniche Animal Health develops, manufactures and markets veterinary biopharmaceutical products worldwide. In North America, it has development, manufacturing and marketing facilities in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, Athens, Georgia, U.S.A. and Pullman, Washington, U.S.A. In Australia, business is conducted from two sites: Sydney, New South Wales, where sales and marketing, customer support and technical service are located; and Armidale, New South Wales, where research, development and manufacturing facilities are located.
Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. has been named one of the Top 50 Best Small and Medium-Sized Employers in Canada for 2011. For more information, please visit www.Bioniche.com
About Trophogen Inc.
Trophogen, Inc. is a U.S.-based biotechnology company founded in 2001 with Series A funding from Toucan Capital, focusing on the development of human and bovine high affinity glycoprotein hormone and related growth factor superagonist analogs for human infertility and animal superovulation as well as targeted therapy and imaging of thyroid, ovarian, breast, prostate and testicular cancers. Trophogen's lead product is a long-acting human FSH superagonist for a multibillion dollar human infertility market, and the above-described bovine FSH analog was engineered to mimic the proven increased efficacy of the human FSH analog. In addition to its venture capital support, Trophogen has received a $3 million NICHD Phase 2 SBIR grant to take its human FSH analog to Phase I-II clinical trials in 2014. Trophogen has also received over $5 million from other NIH SBIR grants to take other advanced pre-clinical human products to Phase I-II clinical trials by 2016 for additional multibillion dollar markets. It has also received over $3 million from various human and veterinary pharmaceutical co-development and licensing agreements. For more information about Trophogen, please visit www.trophogen.com.
Except for historical information, this news release may contain forward-looking statements that reflect the two companies' current expectations regarding future events. These forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, which may cause, but are not limited to, changing market conditions, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the establishment of corporate alliances, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process, and other risks detailed from time to time in Bioniche's ongoing quarterly and annual reporting.
SOURCE Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.