Amunix, Inc. Announces Extension of Evaluation Agreement with Roche (RHHBY)

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA–(Marketwired – October 26, 2015) – Amunix Operating Inc. (Amunix), a leader in the area of protein half-life extension, today announced that its partner Roche has extended the collaborative evaluation of Amunix’s XTEN® technology. This evaluation with focus on an undisclosed indication was initiated in 2013 and has now been extended into 2017.

“Our XTEN protein polymers can be utilized in a wide range of applications,” said Volker Schellenberger, Ph.D., Amunix president and CEO. “Collaborations with leading pharma and biotech companies allow us to expand the reach of our XTEN technology. We are glad that Roche has chosen to continue our collaboration.”

XTEN is a proprietary recombinant polypeptide that extends the in vivo half-life of therapeutic modalities. XTEN consists of naturally occurring hydrophilic amino acids and is biodegradable. Pharmaceuticals such as proteins, peptides and synthetic compounds can be XTENylated via chemical conjugation or genetic fusion. This flexibility has allowed XTEN technology to offer best-in-class half-life for multiple highly-competitive applications. The XTEN platform technology can be uniquely tailored to enhance the pharmaceutical properties of a wide range of products.

About Amunix

Amunix Operating Inc., based in Mountain View, CA, is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics with improved in vivo half-lives. Amunix’s half-life extension technology is based on XTEN — hydrophilic, unstructured, biodegradable polypeptides that impart a number of favorable properties upon the molecules to which they are attached. XTEN can be recombinantly fused or chemically conjugated to peptides, proteins, and other pharmaceuticals. In addition to the advantages of reduced dosing frequency, XTENylation also stabilizes plasma drug concentrations, which often results in increased efficacy as well as reduced side effects. Two genetically fused XTENylated products, VRS-859 (exenatide-XTEN) and somavaratan (VRS-317, human growth hormone-XTEN) have completed Phase 1 studies. Somavaratan, through Amunix partner Versartis, recently announced extension data from a completed Phase 2 clinical trial in children with growth hormone deficiency, and a Phase 3 study is ongoing. Amunix is also working with other partners including Biogen, Janssen, Baxalta, Ambrx, Naia, Zealand, Noxxon and other undisclosed companies in various other therapeutic areas. For additional information about the company, please visit www.amunix.com

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