BRISBANE, 16 December 2011: Australian early-stage drug development company CBio Limited (ASX:CBZ) today announced that Novo Nordisk A/S declined to exercise its option to license XToll for further development and commercialisation. As a result of Novo Nordisk’s decision, CBio has the right to develop and commercialise XToll either independently or in collaboration with third parties. XToll is CBio’s potential new drug therapy with a novel mechanism of action which could provide safer and more effective treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and SLE (Lupus). “XToll is thought to modulate the immune system and bring it back into balance. The Board believes that XToll could potentially become an important therapy for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and we continue to explore all opportunities for the commercialisation of this drug candidate,” said CBio Chairman, Dr Ralph Craven. XToll has been trialled in over 330 patients with no pattern of treatment-emergent serious adverse effects. The company’s largest clinical trial to date completed in Q2 2011 and showed biological activity and signs of clinical effect in patients with moderate to severe RA. RA is a chronic, debilitating and progressive disease that leads to pain, suffering and disability. It affects up to 2% of the world’s population. Global sales of RA therapies exceeded US$17 billion in 2008. In October, the company published research conducted in an animal model that indicated XToll could also have utility in the treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE or Lupus). Lupus is a disease where the body’s immune system attacks all organs, and may result in death. Approximately five million people worldwide suffer with lupus, and the global lupus market is expected to reach $2.5 billion per annum by 2017. CBio’s core business strengths lie in the management of pre-clinical, phase I and phase II clinical trials, strong cell biology and immunology experience particularly in proteins, and a deep clinical and scientific understanding of rheumatoid arthritis, the current leading therapies in the space and their mechanisms of action. For and on behalf of the Board. ROSLYNN SHAND Company Secretary
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