NovImmune initiates a Proof-of-Concept study in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC).
The PIANO study: Primary biliary cirrhosis: Investigating A New treatment Option using NI-0801, a fully human anti-CXCL10 monoclonal antibody

Plan-Les-Ouates/Geneva/Switzerland. NovImmune announced today that a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) study with NI-0801, a fully human monoclonal antibody neutralizing the CXCL10/Interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) chemokine, was initiated in patients with PBC. This is a chronic inflammatory, debilitating condition of the bile ducts that leads to liver cirrhosis and eventually to liver failure, and which represents a high unmet medical need. Preclinical models and human data strongly associate CXCL10/IP-10 to the etiology of PBC. Two previous Phase I trials in healthy volunteers have demonstrated that the administration of NI-0801 is safe and well tolerated.

NovImmune nominates Klaus Strein as new member of the Board of Directors

Plan-Les-Ouates/Switzerland. NovImmune announced today that Klaus Strein was nominated member of the Board of Directors.

NovImmune raises additional CHF 20 million

Plan-Les-Ouates/Switzerland. NovImmune announced today, following its July 2010 deal with Genentech/Roche, that it obtained further financing of CHF 20 million. The series B financing round of CHF 20M was led by BZ Bank Aktiengesellschaft.

NovImmune enters exclusive antibody licensing agreement with Genentech

Plan-Les-Ouates/Switzerland– 26th July 2010 - NovImmune, an antibody-focused research and development biotech company, announced today that it successfully entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Genentech Inc. a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) for a proprietary anti-IL-17 fully human monoclonal antibody, and access to back-up antibodies. Recently, the IL-17 signaling pathway has received significant academic and corporate interest as its manipulation may potentially provide new treatment opportunities for major medical conditions. The anti-IL-17 antibody was generated by NovImmune’s research team and is currently in late preclinical development. Under the terms of the agreement NovImmune will receive an upfront payment and is eligible to receive clinical milestones and royalties on sales. Full financial terms have not been disclosed.

The EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD 2009 goes to NovImmune 

Hannover/Geneva. The winner of the 2009 EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICAAWARD is NovImmune SA from Switzerland. This biopharmaceutical company duly receivesthe lion's share of the €100,000 prize money, which is awarded each year by DeutscheMesse AG and its partners. The aim of the award is to celebrate theachievements of innovative European companies in the field of biotechnology andthe life sciences. EU Commissioner Janez PotoÄ?nik presented the prizes at today'sopening ceremony for BIOTECHNICA 2009.

NovImmune nominated for the  EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD 2009

Hannover/Geneva. 25th of August. The EUROPEAN BIOTECHNICA AWARD jury has selected the three finalists for 2009: The nominees are the biopharmaceutical companies NovImmune, Switzerland, TRION Pharma GmbH, Germany, and VIVALIS, France. The award, with prize money totalling 100,000 euros, recognizes the achievements of young, innovative European companies from the areas of biotechnology and the life sciences. It is presented annually by Deutsche Messe AG, Hannover, and its partners.

NovImmune successfully completes NI-0801 Phase I clinical study

Plan-Les-Ouates/Geneva - 13^th July 2009 - NovImmune, an immunology-focused biotech company dedicated to the development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, announced today the successful completion of the first phase I clinical study with its fully human monoclonal antibody NI-0801 targeting the chemokine IP-10 (CXCL10) in healthy volunteers. The randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled, single centre, phase I study of escalating single intravenous doses of NI-0801 in healthy volunteers (study NI-0801-01) demonstrated that NI-0801 is well tolerated at doses up to and including 20mg/kg.

NovImmune completes CHF 62.5 (USD 54.8) million equity financing to move portfolio forward and reacquire product rights to lead antibodies  

Plan-Les-Ouates/Geneva - 12^th May 2009 - NovImmune, an immunology-focused biotech company dedicated to the development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, announced today that it has raised CHF 62.5 million (USD 54.8 million) to take back control of its lead compounds (NI-0401 and NI-0501, a fully human monoclonal antibody to CD3 and interferon-gamma, respectively) and for further development of its pipeline. The transaction was led by BZ Bank Aktiengesellschaft.

Panspecific antibodies: Novimmune successful in designing antibodies with multiple specifies 

Plan-Les-Ouates/Geneve - NovImmune announced today the description, for the first time, of a single antibody engineered for double antigen binding specificity involving chemokines as targets...

Top Roche Executive will become Chairman of NovImmune
The Geneva-based biotech company NovImmune S.A. announced today the forthcoming arrival of Eduard E. Holdener, Chief Medical Officer, and formerly Head of Global Pharmaceutical Development at F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel...