MediGene Obtains European Patent on EndoTAGTM-1

Martinsried/Munich, February 16, 2007. Today the German-American biotech company MediGene AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: MDG) announced that the European patent office has granted a patent covering the drug candidate EndoTAGTM-1. The patent protects the substance EndoTAGTM-1 developed by MediGene as a drug for the treatment of various types of cancer.
Dr. Peter Heinrich, Chief Executive Officer of MediGene AG, comments: "MediGene now enjoys extensive patent protection for EndoTAG®-1 in the USA and in Europe. This is an essential prerequisite for us in order to exploit the full commercial potential of EndoTAG®-1.
The protection will also apply to potential further developments of EndoTAG®-1, for other types of cancer as well as for diseases other than cancer"
MediGene has exclusively licensed the patent no. EP 1 210 065 from the University of
California, San Francisco. Further patent applications regarding the manufacturing process and administration of the drug have also been filed by MediGene AG. In addition, MediGene holds several patents on the EndoTAGTM technology in general.
EndoTAGTM aims at a novel method of cancer therapy by “starving out” tumors. EndoTAGTM-1 combines the established active substance Paclitaxel with an innovative carrier system of positively charged lipid complexes. They allow a transport of the substance specifically to the negatively charged newly developed tumor blood vessels. There the drug is discharged in order to destroy the blood vessels, thus suppressing the tumor’s nutrient supply. MediGene is currently conducting an extensive clinical phase II trial of EndoTAGTM-1 for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Another clinical phase II trial in the indication hormone-resistant breast cancer is about to start in the near future. Apart from that, MediGene is also examining the application of the EndoTAGTM technology for the treatment of other diseases.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MediGene as of the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are no guarantees for future performance, and the forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur.
MediGene disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements. MediGeneTM and EndoTAGTM are trademarks of MediGene AG.
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MediGene AG is a publicly quoted (Frankfurt: Prime Standard: MDG) biotechnology company located in Martinsried/Munich, Germany, with subsidiaries in Oxford, UK and San Diego, USA. MediGene is the first German biotech company with a drug on the market. A second drug has been approved by the FDA. A third drug was recently inlicensed from the US pharma company CollaGenex to market this drug in Europe. In addition, several drug candidates are currently in clinical development. MediGene also possesses innovative platform technologies.

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