Full Press Release Details
Protalix Submits Validation Data on Manufacturing Process to FDA
CARMIEL, Israel, April 27 Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE-Amex: PLX), announced today it
has submitted validation data regarding the Company s manufacturing process for taliglucerase alfa
to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Company made the submission in response to a
request from the FDA for validation data from the Company s upgraded manufacturing facility. The
FDA is currently reviewing the Company s New Drug Application (NDA) for taliglucerase alfa for the
treatment of Gaucher disease.
Taliglucerase alfa has been granted orphan drug status and fast track designation in the United
States. The Company continues to make taliglucerase alfa available to Gaucher patients in the
United States under an Expanded Access protocol, as well as to patients in the European Union,
Israel and other countries under Named Patient provisions.
About Gaucher disease
Gaucher disease, an inherited condition, is the most prevalent lysosomal storage disorder, with an
incidence of about 1 in 20,000 live births. People with Gaucher disease do not have enough of an
enzyme, beta-glucosidase (glucocerebrosidase), that breaks down a certain type of fat molecule. As
a result, lipid engorged cells (called Gaucher cells) amass in different parts of the body,
primarily the spleen, liver and bone marrow. Accumulation of Gaucher cells may cause spleen and
liver enlargement, anemia, excessive bleeding and bruising, bone disease and a number of other
Protalix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of
proprietary recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell based
expression system. Protalix s ProCellEx presents a proprietary method for the expression of
recombinant proteins that Protalix believes will allow for the cost-effective, industrial-scale
production of recombinant therapeutic proteins in an environment free of mammalian components and
viruses. Protalix is also advancing additional recombinant biopharmaceutical drug development
programs. Taliglucerase alfa is an enzyme replacement therapy in development under a Special
Protocol Assessment with the FDA for Gaucher disease. In August 2009, the FDA granted orphan drug
status and fast track designation to taliglucerase alfa for the treatment of Gaucher disease and
Protalix filed a rolling NDA submission with the FDA in December 2009. In November 2009, Protalix
granted Pfizer Inc. exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize taliglucerase alfa for
the treatment of Gaucher
disease, except in Israel. Protalix retained the right to commercialize taliglucerase alfa in
Safe Harbor Statement
To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, all such
statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to known
and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future experience and results to differ
materially from the statements made. These statements are based on our current beliefs and
expectations as to such future outcomes. Drug discovery and development involve a high degree of
risk. Factors that might cause material differences include, among others, risks relating to: the
successful completion of our clinical trials; the review process of the FDA, the EMEA, other
foreign regulatory bodies and other governmental regulatory bodies, including the FDA s and the
EMEA s review of any filings we make in connection with the treatment protocol for taliglucerase
alfa; delays in the FDA s, the EMEA s or other health regulatory authorities approval of any
applications we file or refusals to approve such filings, including the NDA we filed with the FDA
or taliglucerase alfa for the treatment of Gaucher disease; refusals by such regulatory authorities
to approve the marketing and sale of a drug product even after acceptance of an application we file
for any such drug product; and other factors described in our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have suffered
significant setbacks in advanced or late-stage clinical trials, even after obtaining promising
earlier trial results or in preliminary findings for such clinical trials. Further, even if
favorable testing data is generated by clinical trials of drug products, the FDA, EMEA or any other
foreign regulatory authority may not accept or approve an NDA filed by a pharmaceutical or
biotechnology company for such drug product. Failure to obtain approval from the FDA, EMEA or any
other foreign regulatory authority of any of our drug candidates in a timely manner, if at all,
will severely undermine our business and results of operation by reducing our potential marketable
products and our ability to generate corresponding product revenues. The statements in this
release are valid only as of the date hereof and we disclaim any obligation to update this
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