Abzena Regulatory News (ABZA)

ABZENA PLC

("Abzena", the "Company")

Abzena subsidiary Antitope, INSERM and Baylor Institute for Immunology Research to collaborate to produce manufacturing cell lines for two novel vaccines for HIV

12 January 2015

Cambridge, UK- Abzena plc (AIM: ABZA or "Abzena"), a revenue-generating life sciences company providing services and technologies that enable the development of better biopharmaceutical products, announces its wholly owned subsidiary Antitope Limited ("Antitope") has extended its relationship with INSERM, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, a leading public scientific and technological institute with a key role in biomedical and translational research; ANRS, the National Health Agency for Research on AIDS and Hepatitis; and the Baylor Institute for Immunology Research ("BIIR"), one of the world's leading centers for translational immunology research.

INSERM-ANRS and the BIIR have developed innovative approaches for HIV vaccines targeting HIV antigens to dendritic cells (DC) using monoclonal antibodies fused to HIV antigens. Extensive preclinical data has demonstrated the high immunogenicity of the candidate vaccines. Antitope will produce cell lines for GMP manufacture of two anti-CD40-HIV fusion proteins that INSERM-ANRS and BIIR are developing as potential therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines to treat HIV. The cell lines will be produced using Antitope's Composite CHO™ technology. The antibody component of the fusion proteins has previously been humanized by Antitope using its Composite Human Antibody™ technology. Phase I and Phase II clinical trials will be conducted in France to test the immunogenicity and efficacy of these DC-targeting vaccines developed by INSERM-ANRS in partnership with the BIIR.

Abzena's Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Matthew Baker, commented, "This project further extends our relationship with BIIR in developing a range of therapeutic vaccines for the treatment of diseases such as HIV."

Dr Gerard Zurawski, Co-director of BIIR and Director of the Center for Biotechnology at BIIR, said: "We are excited to be part of this international team that is developing potential new therapeutic options for patients with HIV."

Professor Jean-François Delfraissy, Director of ANRS said: "This is an important step in our research programme to develop effective therapeutic and preventive vaccines against HIV/AIDS."

About Antitope

Antitope is a wholly owned subsidiary of Abzena plc, a group focused on providing proprietary technologies and value-added services to enable the development of better biopharmaceuticals.

Antitope provides immunogenicity assessment, protein engineering to create humanized antibodies and deimmunised therapeutic proteins, and cell line development for manufacture. The Company provides its services and technologies to an international client base that includes most of the world's leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

www.antitope.com

About Abzena

Abzena provides proprietary technologies and value-added services to enable the development of better biopharmaceuticals.

Abzena comprises two wholly owned subsidiary businesses - PolyTherics and Antitope - which have established a broad suite of complementary technologies that are designed to improve the chances of successful development of antibodies and proteins with enhanced therapeutic benefits.

Abzena is listed on the AIM segment of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol ABZA.

www.abzena.com

About BIIR

BIIR (www.biir.org) is the immunology component of Baylor Research Institute and is one of the top translational human immunology centers in the world. BIIR has programs in cancer vaccines, transplantation immunology, infectious diseases and inflammatory diseases. The goal of BIIR is to quickly translate important research discoveries from the 'bench to the bedside' to improve patient care and prevent the causes of diseases before they occur.

About Baylor Research Institute

Established in 1984 in Dallas, Texas, Baylor Research Institute (BRI) promotes and supports research to bring innovative treatments from the laboratory workbench to the patient bedside. To achieve this bench-to-bedside concept, BRI focuses on basic science, clinical trials, healthcare effectiveness and quality of care research. Today, BRI is conducting more than 930 active research protocols with 400 research investigators, spanning more than 22 medical specialties, and has research and development projects in areas ranging from human immunology and orphan metabolic diseases to diabetes, cardio-vascular disease and many other unmet medical needs.

About Baylor Scott & White Health

Baylor Scott & White Health, the organization formed from the 2013 merger between Baylor Health Care System and Scott & White Healthcare, is today the largest not-for-profit health care system in the state of Texas. With total assets of $8.6 billion* and serving a geographic area larger than the state of Maine, Baylor Scott & White Health has the vision and resources to provide its patients continued quality care while creating a model system for a dramatically changing health care environment. The organization now includes 46 hospitals, more than 500 patient care sites, more than 6,000 active physicians, 36,000 employees and the Scott & White Health Plan. For More Information visit: www.BaylorScottandWhite.com

* based on unaudited fiscal year 2014 financial statements

For more information, please contact:

For Antitope / Abzena

John Burt (Chief Executive Officer)

Tel: + 44 (0)1223 903351

Email: john.burt@abzena.com

Christopher Golden and Bobbie Hilliam

Cenkos Securities (Nominated Adviser and Broker)

Tel: +44 (0)20 7397 8900

Mark Swallow or Chris Gardner

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7638 9571

Email: abzena@citigatedr.co.uk

For Baylor Institute of Immunology Research

Kristine Hughes

Tel: (office): +1 (214) 820-7556

Tel: (mobile): +1 (214) 755-0010

Email: kristine.hughes@baylorhealth.edu

About INSERM

Founded in 1964, the French national institute of health and medical research (INSERM) is a public science and technology institute, jointly supervised by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Ministry of Health. The mission of its scientists is to study all diseases, from the most common to the most rare, through their work in biological, medical and public health research.

With a budget of 972 million euros in 2013, INSERM supports more than 300 laboratories across France. In total, the teams include nearly 15,000 researchers, engineers, technicians and administrative staff, etc. INSERM is a member of the National Alliance for Life and Health Sciences, founded in April 2009 with CNRS, INSERM, the CEA, INRA, INRIA, the IRD, the Pasteur Institute, the Conference of University Presidents (CPU) and the Conference of Chairmen of The Regional and University Hospital Centres. This alliance forms part of the policy to reform the research system by better coordinating the parts played by those involved and by strengthening the position of French research in this field through a concerted plan.

www.inserm.fr 

About ANRS

Created in 1992 by the French government, the ANRS (the National Agency of Research on AIDS and viral hepatitis) is an independent agency of INSERM which coordinates and funds national public research effort on AIDS and viral hepatitis. The organisation focuses its efforts on key research areas such as vaccine research, basic research, clinical, therapeutic and epidemiologic research, public health as well as the human and social sciences and research in developing countries.

www.anrs.fr

For Inserm-ANRS

Laurent Hanot

Tel: (office): +33 49 81 37 56

Email: laurent.hanot@inserm.fr