Agreement on development contract: ProBioGen and Affimed continue their collaboration

Berlin and Heidelberg, Germany, 14 February 2006

ProBioGen, the international cell specialists from Berlin, and Heidelberg based Affimed Therapeutics AG, specializing in the development of recombinant antibodies for the treatment of cancer, announce the execution of a development collaboration. Within the frame of this contract, ProBioGen will develop a high-producing cell-line as well as a production process and procedure with GMP-manufacturing for clinical material for a TandAB, a bi-specific, tetravalent recombinant antibody, from Affimed.

Meanwhile, both companies are discussing extending their collaboration to other products. The co-operation between ProBioGen and Affimed reached a new level of intensity with this contract. "We are very happy to use our expression technology for a key product for Affimed," said Michael Schlenk, CEO of ProBioGen. "It has already become obvious during our negotiations that the cultures of our enterprises fit very well together."

"ProBioGen's high competence and professional project management really convinced us. The collaboration has been very constructive from the beginning based on a highly efficient exchange of information and is already showing first promising results. Thus, we are looking forward to extending our collaboration expecting significant benefits for the development of our products," said Dr. Rolf H. Günther, CEO of Affimed.

 

About ProBioGen AG

ProBioGen is an internationally orientated specialist in cell design, viral vectors and the production of glycoproteins for the biopharmaceutical industry. This biotechnology enterprise was founded in 1994 with its base in Berlin as a spin-off from the university clinic, Charité. The production and service range from the design of new types of cell lines from primary tissue and the development of highly productive mammal cell lines, to the production of glycoproteins for clinical studies. ProBioGen holds the rights to produce substances compatible for pharmaceutical items for testing in clinical studies, and fulfils the quality standards demanded by the EU (EMEA) and FDA. When the production of biopharmaceutical substances are commissioned, ProBioGen has available a certified GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) supply for multipurpose. The enterprise connects the knowledge of molecular biology scientists with the experience of experts in cell culture and production methods. ProBioGen works with their clients from the early development of possible productions to the later stages of clinical testing.

About AFFIMED Therapeutics AG

Affimed is a private Heidelberg, Germany-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of recombinant antibodies - the fastest growing segment of the pharmaceutical industry. Affimed was founded in May 2000 by Professor Melvyn Little as a spin-off of his group “Recombinant Antibodies“ at the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg. By utilizing its broad portfolio of proprietary, in-house technology platforms together with crucial enabling freedom-to-operate licenses the company has been able to establish a pre-clinical product pipeline of promising novel product candidates mainly for indications in oncology and autoimmune diseases. Two cancer products are in advanced pre-clinical development. Further products are being developed in a partnership with Syngenta Biopharma.

ProBioGen Contact

Michael Schlenk
Goethestraße 54
13068 Berlin
Tel.: +49.30.924006-16
Fax: +49.30.924006-19
e-mail: michael.schlenk@probiogen.de

Affimed Contact

Dr. Florian Fischer
Im Neuenheimer Feld 582
69120 Heidelberg
Tel.: +49-6221-65307-0
Fax: +49-6221-65307-77