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| Sales of Apollo's human proteins double in second half of 2007 |
Apollo's hcx proteins | Apollo Cytokine Research, a subsidiary of Apollo Life Sciences, announced this week that sales of its human cell-expressed (hcx®) proteins in the second half of 2007 were double that of the first half of the year.
Apollo CEO John Priest said it was particularly pleasing to see that the number of orders from repeat customers in 2007 showed a fourfold increase from 2006, while new customers increased by 111 per cent.
"These positive sales results indicate that Apollo's human-derived hcx proteins are in increasing demand around the world," said Mr Priest.
The average price Apollo charges for a 5 microgram1 vial of human-derived protein is AUD$275 (or AUD$55 for each microgram). Sales are made through a wholly-owned subsidiary of Apollo, Apollo Cytokine Research.
Mr Priest said the company's library of 120 hcx proteins is used to (1) leverage Apollo's unique drug delivery technologies Oradel® and Intradel®, (2) develop links and relationships with pharmaceutical companies and research institutes, and (3) allow the company to generate cash to help advance clinical trials of its needle-free therapeutic drugs (e.g. oral insulin tablet).
"More than just a source of early revenue, Apollo's human cell-expressed proteins form a bank of therapeutic candidates that have the potential to be developed 'in-house' by the company or via collaborations or licensing arrangements with external partners such as pharmaceutical companies," said Mr Priest.
Examples include an anti-inflammatory protein (ALS-00T2), which is being combined with Apollo's proprietary Oradel and Intradel technologies to develop an oral and topical treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis2, and the company's top selling protein, hcx-Adiponectin, which has emerged as an important research tool in the development of treatments for metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
Apollo's hcx proteins are sold to large pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, hospitals, research institutes and universities domestically and in the United States, Japan, United Kingdom and the European Union. Customers include Pfizer, Novartis, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Johnson & Johnson, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Covance, Merck, Mayo Clinic (US), Harvard Institute of Medicine, and UCB Celltech.
Apollo has also established collaborations with domestic and international pharmaceutical companies and research organisations, including GenWay Biotech (US), Cell Signaling Technology (US), Australian Stem Cell Centre, Stem Cell Sciences (UK, Australia and Japan), Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories, WiCell Research Institute (US), The National Institutes of Health (US Department of Health and Human Services) and King's College London.
1 5 microgram = 0.000 005 gram
2 Apollo's oral and topical anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) programs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis are approaching Phase I and Phase II trials, respectively.
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