rho home
venture capital
fund of funds
private equity
extranet
           < 2003 News Listings
TolerRx Completes $35 Million Series C Financing

Funding to drive clinical development of two lead products, marketing of novel antibody platform technology, and expansion of research programs on immunological tolerance



CAMBRIDGE, MA
January 3, 2003

TolerRx, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of therapies that induce and maintain immunological tolerance, today announced the signing of a collaboration agreement with Genentech, Inc. (NYSE: DNA) to develop and commercialize TRX1, TolerRx's lead product. In addition, TolerRx announced the initiation of - a Phase I clinical trial of TRX1.a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of therapies that induce and maintain immunological tolerance, today announced the signing of a collaboration agreement with Genentech, Inc. (NYSE: DNA) to develop and commercialize TRX1, TolerRx's lead product. In addition, TolerRx announced the initiation of - a Phase I clinical trial of TRX1.

Under the agreement, TolerRx will receive an upfront payment and equity investment totaling $6 million. The agreement also provides for TolerRx to receive development milestone payments. In addition, TolerRx can receive royalty payments on net sales of TRX1 and have the right to participate in a cost and profit sharing relationship in the United States.

TRX1 is directed at the CD4 antigen on T cells and has been designed and genetically modified to generate tolerogenic immune responses. In the Phase I clinical trial, the safety and pharmacokinetics of TRX1 is being evaluated in a single dose, dose escalating, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

"Genentech is the world leader in monoclonal antibody development and the ideal partner for us to bring this novel therapy to patients. The collaboration with Genentech and the initiation of the Phase I study are important milestones for TolerRx as we continue to research and develop therapies based on immunological tolerance," stated Douglas J. Ringler, V.M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer at TolerRx.


About TolerRx
TolerRx is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of therapies that induce and maintain immunological tolerance and reprogram the immune system to treat patients with immune-related diseases. TRX1 (anti-CD4 humanized monoclonal antibody) is in a Phase I clinical study and is being developed in collaboration with Genentech, Inc. TRX4 (anti-CD3 humanized monoclonal antibody) is currently being studied in investigator-sponsored clinical trials to treat patients with new-onset Type I diabetes mellitus. The Company's TolerMabTM antibody platform can modify monoclonal antibodies to become immunologically recognized as "self" while maintaining therapeutic activity for long-term use. TolerRx also has two research and discovery programs that are characterizing new targets involved in the induction of immunological tolerance for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases or in the removal of tolerance for the treatment of cancer or chronic viral diseases. For further information, please visit www.tolerrx.com. TolerMabTM™ is a trademark of TolerRx, Inc.



      
Copyright ©2007 Rho Capital Partners, Inc.