MALVERN, Pa., June 9, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Nasdaq: TLOG ) today announced results from its collaboration with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia, indicating that SMAC mimetics, including TetraLogic's lead compound birinapant, may have broad applicability in the treatment of infectious disease.
Previous preclinical studies performed at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have indicated that birinapant decreases the viral burden in mice infected with human hepatitis B virus (HBV) by inducing apoptosis of virally infected liver cells resulting in the reduction of circulating HBV and surface antigen (HBsAg). Recent studies have extended these findings and indicate that other novel SMAC mimetics from TetraLogic's library share this activity in HBV.
Birinapant has also indicated activity in other models of infectious disease; specifically, it induces cell death in human blood cells infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, decreases the bacterial burden in the lungs of mice infected with tuberculosis and in mice infected with Legionella.
TetraLogic has entered into a license agreement with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for worldwide exclusive rights to a patent application relating to a method of treating intracellular infections with administration of an inhibitor of the Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) proteins.
"We are delighted with the progress of this research collaboration," said institute director Professor Doug Hilton, "and we are looking forward to the initiation of clinical studies based on this work."
"These results further support the fundamental mechanism by which SMAC mimetics are operating, and provide additional rationale for the study of birinapant in infectious disease," said Dr. Glenn Begley, TetraLogic's Chief Scientific Officer.
About the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute is Australia's oldest medical research institute. It is home to almost 750 researchers who are working to understand, prevent and treat diseases including infectious diseases, cancers and immune disorders. It is located in Parkville, Melbourne, and is closely associated with The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
About Birinapant
Birinapant (TL32711) is a potent, bivalent SMAC mimetic that binds with differential affinity to multiple members of the IAP family including cIAP1, cIAP2, XIAP, and ML-IAP. Birinapant is differentiated from other SMAC mimetics in that it results in the selective degradation of cIAP1 bound to TRAF-2 in the TNF receptor complex, sparing non - TRAF-2 bound cIAP1. This unique IAP antagonism profile of birinapant may result in the improved tolerability and therapeutic index observed with this agent.
About TetraLogic
TetraLogic is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule therapeutics in oncology and infectious diseases. TetraLogic has two clinical-stage product candidates in development: birinapant and suberohydroxamic acid phenyl ester (SHAPE). Birinapant is currently being tested in Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials for hematological malignancies and solid tumors. SHAPE is entering Phase 2 trials for early-stage CTCL.
Forward Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to future events or TetraLogic's pre-clinical and clinical development of birinapant, SHAPE and other clinical programs, future expectations, plans and prospects. Although TetraLogic believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, expectations may prove to have been materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. TetraLogic has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including ''believes,'' ''estimates,'' ''anticipates,'' ''expects,'' ''plans,'' ''projects,'' ''intends,'' ''potential,'' ''may,'' ''could,'' ''might,'' ''will,'' ''should,'' ''approximately'' or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2014 and our Quarterly Report of Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 8, 2014. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of its date. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Company Contact: Pete A. Meyers Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals Corporation (610) 889-9900, x103 Investor Relations Contact: Ami Bavishi Burns McClellan, Inc. (212) 213-0006
