Full Press Release Details
Oncology and Intrexon Announce Worldwide Partnership for Synthetic Biology
DNA-based Oncology Therapeutics
Kirk, CEO and Chairman of Intrexon, to Join ZIOPHARM Board of
NEW YORK, NY and GERMANTOWN, MD
(January 6, 2011) - ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZIOP), a small
molecule late-stage oncology drug development company, and Intrexon Corporation,
a next generation synthetic biology company, announced today a global exclusive
channel partnership in oncology where ZIOPHARM will develop and commercialize
DNA-based therapeutics using Intrexon's UltraVector Technology. Under the
partnership, ZIOPHARM will utilize Intrexon's advanced transgene engineering
platform for the controlled and precise cellular production of anti-cancer
effectors. ZIOPHARM will have rights to Intrexon's entire human in vivo effector platform
within the field of oncology which includes two lead clinical-stage product
candidates, one which is in an advanced Phase I study and another which will be
the subject of an Investigational New Drug ("IND") filing during the first half
of 2011. ZIOPHARM and Intrexon will host a conference call and audio webcast
today, Thursday, January 6th at 5:00
p.m. ET to discuss the global exclusive channel partnership.
employs its modular genetic engineering platform in the areas of therapeutics,
protein production, industrial, and agriculture products. The exclusive channel
partnership between Intrexon and ZIOPHARM has been established specifically for
the field of human oncologic therapeutics. Under the partnership, Intrexon
remains responsible for technology discovery efforts and managing the patent
estate as well as for certain aspects of manufacturing. ZIOPHARM will be
responsible for conducting preclinical and clinical development of candidates,
as well as for other aspects of manufacturing and the commercialization of the
core synthetic biology technology is designed to create Better DNA at
industrial scale, enabling unprecedented control over the function and output of
living cells by providing external control over in vivo activation and
regulation of potent effectors. This platform, called UltraVector , provides
speed, flexibility, consistency and precision to the design, production and
testing of rationally designed complex transgenes and their encoded genetic
circuits. These qualities allow an iterative and rational approach to
transgene design, which can be continually engineered until their performance is
this process, Intrexon is able to overcome the challenges inherent in current
therapeutic strategies, including recombinant protein therapies and constitutive
gene therapies, thereby enhancing capabilities, improving safety and lowering
cost for human therapeutics. The lead oncology product candidate developed using
Intrexon's technologies is currently in Phase Ib clinical study for metastatic
melanoma. ZIOPHARM expects to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND)
application with U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a second oncology product
candidate in the first half of this year.
scalable synthetic biology, the tightly regulated delivery of therapeutic
proteins from within the body, is an aspirational and disruptive technology
which Intrexon has brought from scientific theory to medical application," said
Jonathan Lewis, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer
of ZIOPHARM. "As the sole channel partner for in vivo therapeutic
candidates for human oncology, ZIOPHARM plans to leverage this technology for
next-generation products targeting key pathways used by cancers to grow and
metastasize. Intrexon has developed a technology that is uniquely
flexible, scalable and controllable, adding significantly to our small molecule
drug development capabilities and our ability to translate science to the
patient using our world-class global team."
very pleased to collaborate with ZIOPHARM, which, under the leadership of
Jonathan Lewis, is building an industry leading oncology company with a
strategic vision regarding cancer medicine. ZIOPHARM's oncology expertise,
development capabilities, as well as its excellent reputation within the
oncology community make ZIOPHARM an exceptional investment for Intrexon and
ideal partner to rapidly achieve the full therapeutic benefit and commercial
potential of Intrexon's disruptive technologies," stated RJ Kirk, Intrexon's
Chairman and CEO. "This collaboration leverages the capabilities and strengths
of each partner and has the potential to create significant value for
terms of the agreement:
to the agreement, Mr. Kirk has agreed to join the ZIOPHARM Board of Directors.
In addition to his responsibilities at Intrexon, Mr. Kirk has served, since
March 1999, as Senior Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Third
Security, LLC, an investment management firm founded by Mr. Kirk. Additionally,
Mr. Kirk founded and became Chairman of the Board of New River Pharmaceuticals
Inc. in 1996, and was President and Chief Executive Officer between October 2001
and April 2007. New River was acquired by Shire plc in 2007. Mr. Kirk
also currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Halozyme
Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: HALO), and as Chairman of the Board for Clinical
Data, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLDA). Previously, Mr. Kirk served as a member of the Board
of Directors of Scios, Inc. (acquired by Johnson & Johnson) between February
2000 and May 2002. Mr. Kirk served on the Board of Visitors of Radford
University from July 2003 to June 2009, was Rector of the Board from September
2006 to September 2008, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Radford
University Foundation, Inc. since September 1998. He has served on the Board of
Visitors of the University of Virginia and Affiliated Schools since July 2009,
on the Virginia Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates since July 2006, on the
Governor's Economic Development and Jobs Creation Commission since April 2010,
and served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia University
Research Partnership from July 2007 to November 2010. Mr. Kirk received a B.A.
in Business from Radford University and a J.D. from the University of
Mr. Kirk's appointment, Dr. Lewis added: "RJ is a visionary and a winner with a
long record of success and value creation in the life sciences. His addition to
the ZIOPHARM Board of Directors will be invaluable, and we look forward to his
many contributions in this role."
Securities, Inc. acted as an advisor to Intrexon on this
Call and Webcast January 6, 2011 at 5:00pm ET
and Intrexon will host a conference call and live audio webcast on January 6,
2011 at 5:00pm ET to discuss their global exclusive channel partnership. The
call can be accessed by dialing (877) 375-9144 (U.S. and Canada) or (253)
237-1150 (international). The passcode for the conference call is
ZIOPHARM.' To access the live audio webcast, or the subsequent archived
recording, visit the "Investors - Events & Presentations" section of the
ZIOPHARM website at www.ziopharm.com. The
webcast will be recorded and available for replay on the company's website for
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.:
Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and