Arana Therapeutics Ltd. (acquired by Cephalon, Inc.)

Corporate Snapshot

Arana Therapeutics Ltd. ("Arana" or "the Company") is a biotechnology company developing next-generation antibody therapeutics to treat inflammatory diseases and cancer. Arana's business is divided into two sectors: (1) protein engineering technologies; and (2) therapeutics development. The Company's technology platform includes its Superhumanisation(tm), Synhumanisation(r), and EvoGene(tm) proprietary processes. Application of these technologies can transform lead proteins, including antibodies, into potent therapeutic candidates. The resulting products may be less immunogenic (less likely to cause immune-related side effects), yet retain the crucial binding properties of the lead non-human antibodies upon which they are based. Additionally, Arana can use its technologies to decrease the timelines and financial risks associated with its therapeutic antibody development. This is done by further enhancing antibodies against validated targets that would otherwise be excluded from development due to competitors' existing patents. Arana's product pipeline targets inflammatory diseases as well as a broad range of solid tumors and leukemia. ART621, the most advanced candidate, is a Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFa)-blocker for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, and Crohn's disease. Two Phase II clinical trials of ART621 are currently ongoing, one in psoriasis and the other in RA. ART621's U.S. Investigational New Drug (IND) application for RA was opened as of November 2008. Within Arana's Cancer Franchise, the lead product candidate is ART010, an engineered version of a naturally occurring protein being developed to treat cancer-related bone disease and osteoporosis. The Company has commenced the production process of ART010, which may enter Phase I trials in 2010. Arana has headquarters in Sydney, Australia, with facilities in Melbourne, Australia, and San Francisco, California.