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| Sirtris Licenses Fundamental Patent from Guarente Lab at MIT: SIRT1 Activation Has Therapeutic Potential for Lipid Disorders |
Paper published in Molecular Cell describes the role of SIRT1 activation in cholesterol metabolism CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 11, 2007--Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRT), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing small molecule drugs to treat diseases of aging, announced today that it has signed an exclusive license agreement with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for intellectual property related to SIRT1 as a novel mechanism that affects atherosclerosis and other age-related diseases. Specifically, this agreement provides Sirtris with exclusive rights to intellectual property covered under the patent "Cholesterol-Regulating Complex of SIRT1 and LXR and Methods of Use." Karl Normington, Ph.D., M.B.A., Sirtris' Senior Director of Intellectual Property said, "Sirtuins are attractive drug targets which may be therapeutically beneficial for metabolic, neurological, and cardiovascular diseases. This license further strengthens Sirtris' intellectual property estate for drugs that may address diseases of aging." Christoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. said, "We are pleased to announce the exclusive licensing of this important intellectual property which further expands the potential therapeutic areas of development of our SIRT1 activator drug candidates." The intellectual property in-licensed by Sirtris is described in a paper published today "SIRT1 Deacetylates and Positively Regulates the Nuclear Receptor LXR," Molecular Cell Volume 28, Issue 1, October 12, 2007. The paper describes the role of SIRT1 activation on a receptor involved in lipid metabolism which may be therapeutic for atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases of aging. Leonard P. Guarente, Ph.D., Novartis Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the senior author of the paper and inventor on the patent, added, "Activation of SIRT1 may be a novel mechanism for the treatment of atherosclerosis and other lipid disorders." About Sirtris Pharmaceuticals Sirtris Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing proprietary, orally available, small molecule drugs with the potential to treat diseases associated with aging, including metabolic diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes. Our drug candidates are designed to mimic certain beneficial health effects of calorie restriction, without requiring a change in eating habits, by activation of sirtuins, a recently discovered class of enzymes that control the aging process. The company's headquarters are in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, the potential therapeutic effects of SIRT1 activators for diseases of aging, including metabolic, neurological and cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, the expected benefits of the License and related intellectual property, the expected results of pre-clinical studies of SIRT1 activators, and the potential of sirtuin modulators to receive regulatory approval. These forward-looking statements about future expectations, plans and prospects of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including risks related to the lack of results that would provide a basis for predicting whether any of the Company's product candidates will be safe or effective, or receive regulatory approval, the possibility that results of pre-clinical studies are not necessarily predictive of clinical trial results, the Company's potential inability to initiate and complete pre-clinical studies and clinical trials for its product candidates, the fact that none of the Company's product candidates has received regulatory approvals, the potential inability of the Company to gain market acceptance of the Company's product candidates, the possibility that the license is not adequately protected and the related intellectual property may not have its desired results, and those other risks factors that can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those Sirtris Pharmaceuticals contemplated by these forward-looking statements. Sirtris Pharmaceuticals does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release.
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| "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Sirtris Pharmaceuticals's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year. |