Pieris progresses proprietary asthma program: validation of pulmonary delivery of Anticalin®-based protein product candidate

Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany (ots) -

Pieris AG, a bio-pharmaceutical company developing Anticalins®, a
novel class of targeted human protein therapeutics, today announced
significant progress in validating novel, effective products for the
potential treatment of asthma. In studies of its proprietary PRS-060
Anticalin® candidate, the Company reports that the protein can be
effectively delivered to its target of action via the lungs.

PRS-060 has been selected by Pieris as being specific for a target
implicated in a mechanism underlying asthma and other atopic
diseases. The mode of action of the Anticalin® candidate is via
modulation of the site of binding for multiple ligands. "This
important milestone demonstrates the exciting potential of
Anticalin®-based products for the treatment of respiratory disease,"
said Dr Andreas Hohlbaum, Director of Science and Preclinical
Development of Pieris. "In a simple preclinical biodistribution study
quantitating PRS-060 Anticalin® delivered via a microspray device, we
have already observed about 10-fold higher PRS-060 uptake than that
typically obtained with monoclonal antibodies. Our findings have
demonstrated the potential to deliver Anticalins® through alternative
routes to injection and thereby exploit their intrinsic robustness
and stability."

"This study confirms the ability of PRS-060 to be formulated in a
way ideally suited to its application in asthma, namely in an inhaled
preparation for home use," noted Evert Kueppers, Pieris Chief
Executive Officer. "These findings continue to support the view that
our Anticalin® platform, including its recent validation for dual
targeting purposes, has enormous potential for application to human
diseases that are currently inadequately treated."

The data will be presented for the first time on August 9th 2007
at IBC's Drug Discovery Technology Conference in Boston, MA, USA.
Pieris is now actively seeking development partners for this program
with specialization in product development for respiratory diseases,
including asthma.

Further information is available at http://www.pieris-ag.com

Anticalin® and Duocalin® are registered trademarks of Pieris AG.

Originaltext: Pieris AG
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For further information, please contact:

Pieris AG
Phone +49 (0) 8161 1411 400
Dr Birgit Zech, Senior Manager Business Development

Further information is available at http://www.pieris-ag.com