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NeoPharm Signs IL-13 Related CRADA With NINDS/ NIH for Research on the Therapeutic Agent for Untreatable Brain Diseases

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 October 2008, 09:00 CDT

NeoPharm, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEOL), today announced that the Company has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (the "CRADA") with the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research on a therapeutic agent for untreatable brain diseases in humans.

Under the terms of the CRADA, NINDS will deliver NeoPharm's proprietary drug, Cintredekin Besudotox (IL13-PE38QQR) ("IL-13"), in conjunction with a surrogate marker via NINDS' patented methodology of Convection Enhanced Delivery (CED), which was previously licensed to NeoPharm. The Company will provide both the drug and technical resources to study its effects in various brain cancers in humans.

Brain stem cell cancer is the most lethal cancer in children, with a survival rate of less than one year after diagnosis. Additionally, Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme is the most common type of malignant primary brain tumor in adults. Treatment success has not significantly changed over the last 20 years, with most patients living less than one year after diagnosis despite aggressive surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

Laurence Birch, President and Chief Executive Officer of NeoPharm, Inc. noted, "This CRADA serves as another step in pursuing the validation of IL-13's impact on possibly increasing and enhancing the life span of patients diagnosed with terminal brain cancers. Given the unique collaboration of these organizations, we are hopeful that these additional resources will allow us to make rapid gains in providing meaningful data points for those who have long since dealt with limited therapeutic options."

Dr. Aquilur Rahman, Chief Scientific Advisor further commented, "We believe this collaboration provides an opportunity to evaluate IL-13's effectiveness as a drug in combating deadly brain diseases. In conjunction with our confirmatory Phase III trial for IL-13, the studies at NINDS with imaging agents should provide further support and better targeting by optimizing delivery systems."

About NeoPharm, Inc.

NeoPharm, Inc., based in Lake Bluff, Illinois, is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of new and innovative cancer and other drugs for therapeutic applications. Additional information, including ongoing clinical trials, can be obtained by visiting NeoPharm's Web site at www.NeoPharm.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company has tried to identify such forward-looking statements by use of such words as "expects,""intends,""project,""hope,""anticipates,""believes," could,""may,""evidences" and "estimates," and other similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to the Company's drug development programs, the initiation progress, and outcomes of trials and studies of the Company's drug product candidates, including, but not limited to, IL-13, and any other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to difficulties or delays that may arise in the development, testing, regulatory approval, production, and marketing of the Company's drug and non-drug compounds, including, but not limited to IL-13, the Company's possible need to reduce its funding of certain of its development projects in order to conserve its cash resources, the ability of the Company to procure additional future sources of financing, unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of the Company's drug product candidates including, but not limited to IL-13, that could slow or prevent products from coming to market, uncertainty regarding the Company's ability to commercialize any of its drug product candidates, including, but not limited to, IL-13, and other risks detailed from time to time in filings the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its annual report on Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2007, as subsequently updated by the Company in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factors, including those risks and uncertainties mentioned or referred to in this press release. Accordingly, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual future result.

Source: Business Wire

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