KARO BIO REACQUIRES RIGHTS TO SARM COMPOUNDS FROM RADIUS
In September 2006 Karo Bio and Radius announced a licensing agreement in which Radius acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to a new class of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) developed by Karo Bio. Karo Bio has now reacquired the full rights to these compounds and to all related data generated by Radius.
Karo Bio has an exclusive compound library within its exploratory androgen receptor antagonist project for treatment of prostate cancer. A subset of the compounds was investigated by Radius in preclinical models. Of specific interest were compounds that exhibited SARM properties, which means that they were stimulatory in bone and muscles while at the same time having neutral effects on prostate or uterine tissue. These compounds were in-licensed by Radius with the intention to develop new compounds for treatment of osteoporosis. Karo Bio has now reacquired all rights to the Karo Bio SARM compounds and to related data generated by Radius.
“There are several therapeutic opportunities for compounds targeting the androgen receptor, and the retained rights and data to the SARMs add value to our technology base. However, our main focus is currently on our prioritized projects which are making progress according to plan”, says Per Olof Wallström, President of Karo Bio.
For further information, please contact:
Per Olof Wallström, President & Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: +46 8 608 60 20
Per Otteskog, Senior Vice President
Telephone: +46 8 608 60 18
About Karo Bio
Karo Bio is a drug discovery and development company specializing in nuclear receptors for the development of novel pharmaceuticals.
The Company has a strong project portfolio with innovative molecules that primarily targets metabolic diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia. In all of these areas there are significant market opportunities and a need for new pharmaceuticals with new mechanisms of action. Karo Bio intends to bring selected compounds within niche therapeutic areas into late stage clinical development and, potentially, to the market. In addition to pursuing niche opportunities, Karo Bio continues to develop compounds aimed at treatment of broad patient populations to clinical proof of concept before out-licensing.
In addition to the proprietary projects, Karo Bio has three strategic collaborations with international pharmaceutical companies for development of innovative therapies for the treatment of common diseases.
Karo Bio is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm AB since 1998 (Reuters: KARO.ST).