Intrexon Forms Collaboration to Develop Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes

GHENT, Belgium, April 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), a leader in synthetic biology, today announced the formation of Intrexon T1D Partners, LLC, a joint venture with a select group of external investors led by White Rock Capital Partners, LP, to develop ActoBiotics^® based antigen-specific immunotherapy to treat type 1 diabetes (T1D) in humans.  T1D is a significant and growing health problem with approximately 1.25 million children and adults affected in the U.S. alone.  The treatment market is expected to expand to an estimated $13.6 billion by 2023.

The objective of the program is to create an easy-to-take pill for people afflicted with T1D to halt autoimmune-induced damage, both for early stage patients before they become insulin dependent and also for certain advanced stage patients to potentially prevent the requirement for insulin to be administered externally.

"Clinical translation of antigen-specific therapies to date has been insufficient to halt T1D in high-at risk individuals or new-onset patients, in part due to degradation of immunomodulatory molecules, non-specificity, and inconsistent delivery to gastro-intestinal mucosa," said Samuel Broder, M.D., Senior Vice President, Head of Intrexon's Health Sector. "ActoBiotics^® biotherapeutics can mediate the transport and targeted delivery of therapeutic proteins directly to the gut mucosal tissue, enabling the uptake and presentation of intact antigens to the Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT), the preferred site for induction of local and peripheral antigen-specific immune tolerance.  We believe this is a promising approach that will provide a disease-modifying therapy for T1D patients."

T1D is a chronic condition characterized by autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, leading to increased blood and urine glucose levels, as well as a range of complications.  Currently there is no drug approved to address the underlying cause of the disease, therefore lifelong injection of insulin is the first-line treatment for T1D.  Intrexon's ActoBiotics^® platform represents an innovative therapeutic paradigm for T1D to prevent, retard, or reverse the destruction of the beta cells. 

As detailed in the peer-reviewed publication, Oral Delivery of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD)-65 and IL10 by Lactococcus lactis Reverses Diabetes in Recent-Onset NOD Mice, ActoBiotics^® therapeutics co-expressing the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) demonstrated reversal of T1D following oral administration.  Introduction of these auto-antigens induced antigen-specific suppressive regulatory T cells specifically at the inflamed target organ and antigen-draining lymph nodes, validating the potential of ActoBiotics^® based immunotherapy for intervention in T1D. 

Through an Exclusive Channel Collaboration agreement, Intrexon received a technology access fee of $10 million.  Intrexon T1D Partners, LLC, in which Intrexon owns a fifty percent interest, will be responsible for all costs related to the development, manufacture, approval and commercialization of the product. 

About Intrexon Corporation
Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON) is Powering the Bioindustrial Revolution with Better DNA^™ to create biologically-based products that improve the quality of life and the health of the planet.  The Company's integrated technology suite provides its partners across diverse markets with industrial-scale design and development of complex biological systems delivering unprecedented control, quality, function, and performance of living cells.  We call our synthetic biology approach Better DNA^®, and we invite you to discover more at www.dna.com or follow us on Twitter at @Intrexon.

Trademarks
Intrexon, ActoBiotics, Powering the Bioindustrial Revolution with Better DNA, and Better DNA are trademarks of Intrexon and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Safe Harbor Statement
Some of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and projections about future events and generally relate to our plans, objectives and expectations for the development of our business.  Although management believes that the plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual future results may be materially different from the plans, objectives and expectations expressed in this press release.

For more information regarding Intrexon Corporation, contact:
Investor Contact:
Christopher Basta
Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (561) 410-7052
[email protected]

Corporate Contact:
Marie Rossi, Ph.D.
Senior Manager, Technical Communications
Tel: +1 (301) 556-9850
[email protected]

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SOURCE Intrexon Corporation

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