February 10, 2009 12:15pm EST
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MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
OPKO Health, Inc. (NYSE Alternext US:OPK) today announced that it will
present initial data on the characterization of its next generation
anti-VEGF siRNA molecules. These new proprietary siRNA's are designed to
inhibit the angiogenic Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A 165
(VEGFA 165 isoform) but spare the anti-angiogenic VEGFA 165b
isoform.
VEGFA 165 is known to play a critical role in diseases of the
eye where the underlying cause of the problem is abnormal growth of
blood vessels, such as in wet Age-related Macular Degeneration. To the
contrary, data show that VEGFA 165b is an inhibitor of
abnormal vessel growth.
"We are pleased to present data regarding our new siRNA molecules that
spare the so-called VEGF 165b at the upcoming ARVO 2009
meeting in Fort Lauderdale," said Phillip Frost, M.D., Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of OPKO Health. "We believe that these new
proprietary molecules have the potential to significantly improve
clinical outcomes in patients with ocular neovascularization." Dr. Frost
further noted that the synthesis of these new siRNA's adds significant
breadth to OPKO's already substantial intellectual property portfolio in
the RNAi space.
About OPKO Health, Inc.
Miami-based OPKO is a specialty healthcare company engaged in the
development, marketing, and sales of novel agents and both diagnostic
and therapeutic devices for the management of ophthalmic diseases. For
more information visit the company's website at www.opko.com .
This press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that
term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 (PSLRA), which statements may be identified by words such as
"expects," "plans," "projects," "will," "may," "anticipates,"
"believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar
meaning, including statements regarding our product development efforts,
our ability to significantly improve clinical outcomes in patients, and
our ability to develop a preclinical pipeline of novel agents for
ophthalmic diseases, as well as other non-historical statements about
our expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding our business,
technologies and products, financial condition, strategies or prospects.
Many factors could cause our actual activities or results to differ
materially from the activities and results anticipated in
forward-looking statements. These factors include those described in our
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as risks
inherent in funding, developing and obtaining regulatory approvals of
new, commercially-viable and competitive products and treatments. In
addition, forward-looking statements may also be adversely affected by
general market factors, competitive product development, product
availability, federal and state regulations and legislation, the
regulatory process for new products and indications, manufacturing
issues that may arise, patent positions and litigation, among other
factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release
speak only as of the date the statements were made, and we do not
undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. We intend
that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor
provisions of the PSLRA.
Source: OPKO Health, Inc.
Released February 10, 2009
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