Heidelberg Pharma AG

Regulatory Filings • Oct 2, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 2 October 2009 07:30

WILEX AG: WILEX receives approval for Phase I trial with MEK inhibitor WX-554

WILEX AG / Research Update/Regulatory Approval

02.10.2009

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Munich, 02 October 2009. The Munich-based biopharmaceutical company WILEX
AG (ISIN DE0006614720 / Frankfurt Stock Exchange / Prime Standard)
announced today that the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical
Devices (BfArM) approved the Phase I trial with the MEK inhibitor WX-554.
The trial is a first-in-man-trial in healthy volunteers and will be
conducted at a single site in Germany.

Dr Paul Bevan, Head of Research and Development and member of the Executive
Management Board of WILEX AG, said: 'The approval of this Phase l clinical
trial is an important milestone and means that the study will start on
schedule in the fourth quarter.'

With the first dose in man, the second milestone payment of EUR 5 million
agreed in the strategic alliance with UCB Pharma S.A., Brussels, Belgium,
will become due.

About WX-554
The orally available, small-molecule MEK inhibitor is one of five oncology
preclinical programmes obtained under the strategic alliance agreed with
UCB in January 2009. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) has been shown
to play a central role in signal transduction. MEK has been linked to a
multitude of biological processes such as cell division, cell
differentiation and cell death. The MEK signalling pathway is overexpressed
in more than 30% of cancers, resulting in uncontrolled cell growth and
proliferation.

Contact
WILEX AG
Katja Arnold (CIRO)
Investor & Public Relations
Grillparzerstr. 10
81675 Munich, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)89-41 31 38-126
Fax: +49 (0)89-41 31 38-99
Mobile: +49 (0)160-93 60 30 22
E-mail: investors@wilex.com

UCB S.A.
Nancy Nackaerts
Director External Communications
Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
Allée de la Recherche 60
1070 Brussels, Belgium
Tel : +32 (0)2 559 9264
Fax : +32 (0)2 559 9571
Mobile: +32 (0)473 86 44 14
E-mail: nancy.nackaerts@ucb.com

About WILEX:
WILEX AG is a biopharmaceutical company based in Munich and is listed at
the Frankfurt Stock Exchange at the Regulated Market / Prime Standard.
WILEX's mission is to develop drugs with a low side effect profile and
targeted treatment of different types of cancer as well as diagnostic
agents for specific detection of tumours. The Company's product candidates
are based on antibodies and small molecules. WILEX has an attractive
product pipeline which includes both drug and diagnostic candidates: The
substances RENCAREX(R) and REDECTANE(R) are currently undergoing a Phase
III registration trial. MESUPRON(R) is in Phase II trials in two
indications. WILEX acquired the MEK inhibitor WX-554 and the PI3K inhibitor
WX-037 as well as three antibody programmes under the terms of the
strategic partnership with UCB. WILEX aims within a few years to be able to
finance its research and development programmes from its operating cash
flow. In order to achieve this goal, the Executive Management Board pursues
a commercialisation strategy for all products.
Website: http://www.WILEX.com, ISIN DE0006614720 / WKN 661472 / Symbol WL6

About UCB:
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a biopharmaceutical company
dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of innovative
medicines with a focus on the fields of central nervous system and
immunology disorders. Employing about 10 000 people in over 40 countries,
UCB achieved revenues of EUR 3.6 billion in 2008. UCB is listed on Euronext
Brussels (symbol: UCB).

This communication contains certain forward-looking statements relating to
the Company's business, which can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as 'estimates', 'believes', 'expects',
'may', 'will' 'should' 'future', 'potential' or similar expressions or by a
general discussion of the Company's strategy, plans or intentions. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors, which may cause our actual results of operations,
financial position, earnings, achievements, or industry results, to be
materially different from any future results, earnings or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these
uncertainties, prospective investors and partners are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any
obligation to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect future
events or developments.

02.10.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

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Language: English
Company: WILEX AG
Grillparzerstr. 10
81675 München
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)89 41 31 38 - 0
Fax: +49 (0)89 41 31 38 - 99
E-mail: info@wilex.com
Internet: www.wilex.com
ISIN: DE0006614720
WKN: 661472
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart

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