Laureate Announces Second Manufacturing Agreement with Cytheris

Laureate Pharma, Inc., a full-service biopharmaceutical development and protein production company, announced today that it has entered into a cGMP contract manufacturing agreement with Cytheris SA, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on research and development of new therapies for immune modulation.

According to the agreement, Laureate will manufacture Cytheris' lead product candidate, Interleukin-7 (IL-7), a fully glycosylated recombinant human protein and critical growth factor for immune T-cell recovery, for use in ongoing international clinical trials currently being conducted for treatment of HIV, HCV and cancer. Terms and conditions of the agreement were not disclosed.

Recombinant human Interleukin-7 (r-hIL-7) is a critical growth factor for immune T-cell recovery and enhancement. Clinical investigations conducted on more than 75 patients in Europe, the U.S. and Canada have suggested the potential of r-hIL-7 to expand and protect CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells.

"We are delighted that Cytheris has selected us again as their CMO, to manufacture IL-7 in support of their expanded clinical trial program. This is a testimonial to our successful partnership with our clients and our effort to achieve their total satisfaction in our ability to meet their manufacturing needs," said Robert J. Broeze, Ph.D., President & CEO of Laureate. "We will work with the Cytheris team very closely and help them realize the greatest potential of their IL-7 development and production program."