Formatech selects Femta's FM101 therapeutic candidate for Fillanthropy program

Today, Formatech, Inc. announced that it has selected Femta's FM101 therapeutic candidate to be enrolled in its Fillanthropy Program. Under this program, Formatech will donate the services required to aseptically fill and finish one lot of the drug candidate for use in support of Femta's upcoming clinical trials.

“We are grateful to be selected to participate in the Formatech's Fillanthropy Program”

FM101 is a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin 6 ("IL-6"). Disregulation of IL-6 is present in or contributes to a number of disease states, including but not limited to cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and cachexia, Femta intends to evaluate FM101 in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a debilitating disease hallmarked by joint inflammation.

"Our team is happy to contribute to the success of Femta's clinical program" said Jeffrey Bernard, Formatech's Director of Business Development. "We hope that FM101 proves to be a beneficial therapy for rheumatoid arthritis and for other indications as well".

"We are grateful to be selected to participate in the Formatech's Fillanthropy Program," said Stephen F. Keane, President and COO of Femta Pharmaceuticals. "FM101, which binds and neutralizes human IL-6 with a femtomolar binding affinity, has recently demonstrated positive animal data in non-human primate animal models. Femta has recently started GMP manufacturing and IND enabling toxicology studies with a target of initiating a Phase I clinical program in the first half of 2011. The potential for this drug matches the goals of Formatech's Fillanthropy Program, providing support for promising drugs in development."