Pieris Initiates Phase I Clinical Trial for Lead Anticalin Compound / Anti-VEGF PRS-050 is first Anticalin tested in humans

Freising-Weihenstephan (ots) - Pieris AG announced today the
initiation of a Phase I clinical trial in cancer patients for its
lead program, PRS-050, an anti-VEGF Anticalin. The trial is an
open-label, dose-escalating evaluation of the compound's safety and
tolerability in patients with solid tumors. Conducted at three sites
in Germany, the trial is underway and patients from the first cohort
have been dosed.

"Meeting our goal of initiating this trial in the first half of
2010 demonstrates Pieris' commitment to establishing the safety and
the therapeutic relevance of the Anticalin drug class," stated
Stephen Yoder, CEO of Pieris. "Further, the high potency observed in
preclinical studies, together with the small size and the lack of an
antibody Fc domain, show promise of an attractive combined efficacy
and safety profile for PRS-050."

The trial is designed to test PRS-050 in approximately 40
patients, who will receive the compound and then be monitored for
safety and tolerability. The patients recruited for the trial are
cancer patients with advanced, recurrent or metastatic solid tumors,
refractory to standard therapy.

PRS-050 is an anti-VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor)
Anticalin discovered and developed internally at the company from
Pieris' proprietary Anticalin libraries. PRS-050's mechanism of
action is based on its ability to bind the VEGF ligand, thereby
inhibiting tumor growth. VEGF's role in cancer angiogenesis, the
mechanism by which cancer tumors increase blood vessel development to
deliver key nutrients and oxygen is well established, both
scientifically and clinically.

About Pieris

Pieris AG is an independent biotechnology company advancing its
proprietary Anticalin(r) technology to create safer, more efficacious
and more convenient protein therapeutics. Exclusive to Pieris,
Anticalin-based drugs promise to address high-unmet medical needs and
expand the therapeutic potential of current targeted approaches.
Pieris' pipeline ranges from its lead clinical program (anti-VEGF,
oncology), to multiple Anticalins in preclinical development. Pieris
will commercialize Anticalin therapeutics through strategic
partnerships, involving both its proprietary pipeline and its de novo
drug discovery capabilities. Its most recent partnership is with
Allergan, Inc. (NYSE: AGN), focusing on novel treatments for eye
diseases. Privately held, Pieris has been funded by premier
biotechnology-focused venture capital, including lead investors
OrbiMed Advisors and Global Life Science Ventures.

Originaltext: Pieris AG
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For more information, please contact:
Pieris AG,
Stephen Yoder, CEO
+49 (0) 8161 1411 400,
info@pieris-ag.com