Advanced Life Sciences licenses promising technology from Argonne

Early stage proteomic investigation to focus on prevention of diseases such as Alzheimer's, type-2 diabetes

ARGONNE, Ill. (May 21, 2003) — Advanced Life Sciences (ALS) has licensed a promising proteomics-based technology from Argonne National Laboratory. The license involves a compound called ALS-499 that has demonstrated activity in the laboratory toward inhibiting amyloid protein aggregation that is characteristic of the development of several diseases, including Alzheimer's and type-2 diabetes.

"We believe this technology has significant potential," said Michael T. Flavin, ALS's chief executive officer. "It will strengthen our inflammation-fighting drug portfolio and provide us with a platform from which we can develop new drugs that may prevent a number of significant diseases. Our scientists have been working in collaboration with Argonne for several years. Our joint research led to the discovery of this interesting compound that will enhance our R&D program in inflammation therapeutics."

Argonne, in collaboration with ALS and the University of Chicago, has been studying the biophysical foundations of amyloid formation for some time, and ALS-499 was discovered during the course of that research. The field of protein aggregation focuses on what happens when proteins in the body clump together in ways that cause disease.

"We were surprised to discover that ALS-499 blocked aggregation of a variety of proteins that can lead to several debilitating diseases," said Fred Stevens, senior biophysicist at Argonne. "If the compound holds substantial potential in terms of its ability to prevent diseases involving faulty protein aggregation."

Under the terms of the license agreement, ALS, located in Woodridge, Ill., will have exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize ALS-499, as well as the platform technology, as a method for preventing amyloid fibril formation. ALS-499 will immediately advance into early stage laboratory investigation under ALS stewardship. If this compound continues to prove its effectiveness in this setting, it is likely to be slated for clinical trials within a few years.

Advanced Life Sciences is a privately held biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs in the therapeutic areas of infection, cancer and inflammation using its platform in natural products and chemical proteomics coupled with expertise in drug development.

The nation’s first national laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory conducts basic and applied scientific research across a wide spectrum of disciplines, ranging from high-energy physics to climatology and biotechnology. Since 1990, Argonne has worked with more than 600 companies and numerous federal agencies and other organizations to help advance America's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for the future. Argonne is operated by the University of Chicago as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's national laboratory system.

For more information, please contact Catherine Foster (630/252-5580 or media@anl.gov) at Argonne or Gail Cowen (773/782-2430) at Advanced Life Sciences.