Regulatory Filings • Jan 20, 2012
Regulatory Filings
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Innate Pharma SA (Euronext Paris: FR0010331421 – IPH), the innate immunity company developing first-in-class drugs for cancer and inflammatory diseases, is pleased to note today that an important discovery in the field of innate immunity, made by a team led by Professor Eric Vivier, Innate Pharma's scientific co-founder at the Center of Immunology of Marseille-Luminy (CIML), has been published in the prestigious journal Science.1
The team, working on « Natural killer » (NK) cells, showed that, surprisingly, mice that did not express the NK activating receptor NKp46 (one of the receptors for NK cell natural cytotoxicity) had an enhanced resistance to some viral infections. Moreover, in this model, the T cell response was calibrated by the level of activity of NK cells. These data reveal a yet undescribed mechanism of regulation for the immune response that might open new avenues for immune therapeutic intervention.
Innate Pharma and INSERM, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, have filed patent applications and co-own the intellectual property rights relating to the discovery. The collaboration between Innate Pharma and the CIML will continue to evaluate the potential of NKp46 as a novel target for the development of immune-modulating agents.
Hervé Brailly, Chief Executive Officer of Innate Pharma, said: "This exciting news demonstrates the strength of our longstanding and fruitful partnership with the CIML and Professor Eric Vivier, and the Company's leadership in the discovery and development of new targets for immunomodulating monoclonal antibodies. It also provides further evidence that targeting innate immunity holds much potential for the development of novel therapies in diseases where the immune response is critical."
NK cells are types of non-conventional lymphocytes, accounting for up to 10% of circulating lymphocytes. NK cells are part of what is called the innate immune system, a first-line of defence against pathogens. Their activation is controlled by activating receptors, (such as NCRs – Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors) and inhibitory receptors, (such as Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors -KIR). By integrating activating and inhibitory signals from these receptors, NK cells can kill both malignant and virally-infected cells and spare "normal" cells. They also play a key role in the control of inflammatory reactions, and in the triggering and regulation of long-term adaptive
1 "Tuning of Natural Killer Cell Reactivity by NKp46 and Helios Calibrates T Cell Responses", Ugolini, Vivier et al., Science 20 January 2012: 344-348.
immune responses. NKp46 is a Natural Cytotoxicity Receptor expressed almost exclusively by NK cells. It was identified and cloned by the team of Prof. Alessandro Moretta (University of Genoa, Italy), scientific co-founder of Innate Pharma.
Founded in 1976, the Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy is a research institute internationally renowned in its discipline which has developed an organization and practices designed to foster the creativity and risk-taking of its researchers. From worm to man, from molecule to whole organism, the physiological to the pathological, the CIML addresses all fields of contemporary immunology: the genesis of different cell populations, their patterns of differentiation and activation, their implications in cancer, infectious and inflammatory diseases and the mechanisms of cell death. Based in Marseille, the CIML is a joint research unit of CNRS, INSERM and the new Aix-Marseille University. Headed by Professor Eric Vivier, it has 17 laboratories and employed 250 people as of 1 January 2012.
Innate Pharma S.A. is a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class immunotherapy drugs for cancer and inflammatory diseases.
The Company specializes in the development of new monoclonal antibodies targeting receptors and pathways controlling the activation of innate immunity cells. Its innovative approach has been validated by licence agreements with two major pharmaceutical companies, Novo Nordisk A/S and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Incorporated in 1999 and listed on NYSE-Euronext in Paris in 2006, Innate Pharma is based in Marseilles, France, and had 81 employees as at September 30, 2011.
Learn more about Innate Pharma at www.innate-pharma.com.
Practical Information about Innate Pharma shares:
| ISIN code | FR0010331421 |
|---|---|
| Ticker code | IPH |
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although the company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors ("Facteurs de Risque") section of the Document de Reference prospectus filed with the AMF, which is available on the AMF website (http://www.amf-france.org) or on Innate Pharma's website.
This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to shares in Innate Pharma in any country.
For additional information, please contact:
| Innate Pharma | French enquiries ATCG Press |
International enquiries M:Communications |
|---|---|---|
| Laure-Hélène Mercier Director, Investor Relations |
Marielle Bricman | Mary-Jane Elliott Amber Bielecka Hollie Vile |
| Phone: +33 (0)4 30 30 30 87 [email protected] |
Mob.: +33 (0)6 26 94 18 53 [email protected] |
Phone: +44 (0)20 7920 2330 [email protected] |
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