SEATTLE & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Insert "Science Park" after "Colworth" in ninth graph, fourth sentence of release: The Company maintains operations in Seattle and in Colworth Science Park, near London in the United Kingdom.
The corrected release reads:
TARGETED GENETICS ANNOUNCES NAME CHANGE TO AMPLIPHI BIOSCIENCES AND HIGHLIGHTS STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Targeted Genetics Corporation (Pink Sheets:TGEN), today announced the change of the Company’s name to AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation (Pink Sheets:APHB) to reflect its positioning as an innovative biotechnology company focused on the advancement of new generation anti-bacterial therapeutics. In conjunction with this announcement, the Company also announced its strategic plan for advancement of AmpliPhi Biosciences’ proprietary bacteriophage development program.
“We believe AmpliPhi Biosciences is well positioned to be a leader in development of bacteriophage therapeutics. We are dedicated to the efficient and rapid advancement of our drug development pipeline, which we believe has the potential to become a significant factor in the battle against antibiotic resistance,” said Edward Cappabianca, Chief Executive Officer of AmpliPhi Biosciences. “We look forward to advancing our core programs and seek to continue the groundbreaking work generated by our team of leading scientists.”
AmpliPhi Biosciences is pursuing the development of its proprietary portfolio of anti-bacterial therapeutic candidates. AmpliPhi Biosciences’ lead programs currently include BioPhage-PA for the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections that occur in chronic ear infections, particularly those that are not responsive to antibiotic therapy, and BioPhage-PR, which is being developed for the treatment of Pseudomonas lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of death among the cystic fibrosis patient population. In addition, the Company plans to explore product development opportunities that combine bacteriophage-based therapeutics with conventional antibiotics and to develop multi-target, indication-specific therapeutics through the application of its bacteriophage technology and its established and expanding phage bank applicable to a range of bacterial targets.
Current corporate initiatives include the establishment of development partnerships and the enhancement of funding opportunities. The Company will also focus on the advancement of its product candidates to enable the start of clinical trials. In addition, the Company aims to capitalize on its remaining gene therapy assets, including its royalty bearing licenses to Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics, Celladon and Genzyme as each company advances their drug candidates.
AmpliPhi Biosciences currently has secured multiple research grants to support portions of its product development programs. These include grant funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of America to support clinical trials of BioPhage-PR for the treatment of Pseudomonas lung infection in cystic fibrosis patients.
“AmpliPhi Biosciences is the first group to advance bacteriophage for human therapeutic applications through a Phase 1 / 2 clinical trial to modern regulatory standards, and it plans to maintain its leading position in this promising field through a focused development plan,” said Jeremy Curnock Cook, Chairman of the Board. “We believe the Company’s expertise will prove valuable in seeking to provide reliable, safe, efficacious and scalable solutions for controlling antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.”
About Bacteriophages
Bacteriophages are naturally occurring viruses that are highly specific in killing bacteria, and when selected appropriately, are extremely safe and effective since they do not infect eukaryotic cells or beneficial (“good”) bacteria. In addition, the self-replicating nature of a virus means that dosage levels of bacteriophage therapeutics may initially be very low, and scale up (or amplify) in the presence of its target until the infection is cleared either by the bacteriophage or in concert with the body’s own immune defenses.
Published data from a Phase 2 clinical trial demonstrate the efficacy of BioPhage-PA in the treatment of serious bacterial infections: specifically, the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in chronic adult inflammation or infection of the ear (otitis). Results demonstrated improvement in 92 percent of patients and complete resolution of infection in 25 percent of patients following a single dose treatment with BioPhage-PA.
Company Name Change
Beginning March 9, 2011, AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation will trade under the symbol “APHB.” The name AmpliPhi reflects the company’s core technology, which is based on bacteriophage, or phage for short. The greek symbol Phi is shorthand for phage, which amplify in the presence of its host bacterial target. The Company maintains operations in Seattle and in Colworth Science Park, near London in the United Kingdom. The Company will also be launching a new corporate website at www.ampliphibio.com in the coming weeks.
Information About Stock Certificates
Stock certificates of Targeted Genetics Corporation are considered stock certificates of AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation, and no exchange of Targeted Genetics stock certificates is required. Securities of Targeted Genetics by operation of law automatically became securities of AmpliPhi Biosciences at the time of the corporate name change.
Results of Annual Shareholders Meeting
Separately the Company announced that on February 18, 2011 the Company conducted its annual shareholders’ meeting. At this meeting, Company shareholders elected Mr. Jeremy L. Curnock Cook as a Class 1 director with a term expiring in 2013, Dr. Caroline A. Williams as a Class 2 director with a term expiring in 2014, and Mr. Edward C. Cappabianca as a Class 3 director with a term expiring in 2012.
About AmpliPhi Biosciences
AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation is a biotechnology company dedicated to the development of innovative anti-bacterial solutions to improve human health through the application of its proprietary bacteriophage platform. The Company’s lead product development programs are targeting gram negative bacterial infections that are often resistant to existing antibiotic treatments. For more information, please visit www.ampliphibio.com.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks, delays, uncertainties and other factors not under the control of the AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation. AmpliPhi Bioscience’s actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those conveyed in such forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ from the forward-looking statements include the possibility that the expected benefits from the Company’s acquisition of Biocontrol Ltd. will not be realized, or will not be realized within the anticipated time period; the risk that the combined businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the Company’s current financial resources and future financial resources will be insufficient to enable the Company to fund continuing operations; and the risk that the Company and its licensee’s product development efforts will be unsuccessful. The Company is not subject to the reporting obligations of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and, accordingly, is not required to file current or periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission.