Kirin announces research collaboration for polyclonal antibody

March 6, 2001 - Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. announced today that Hematech, LLC achieved a milestone in their research collaboration with Kirin to develop a novel TransChromo™ bovine capable of producing fully human antibodies. As a result of this achievement, Kirin has paid a milestone to Hematech. According to the research collaboration, each company will provide its own unique technology towards development of the TransChromo™ bovine. Kirin will pay Hematech research fees, milestones, and royalties in return for exclusive rights to use the TransChromo™ bovines for the development of human polyclonal antibodies.

Kirin has developed a novel technology to introduce human chromosome fragments into animals. Using this technology, a larger portion of human genes that are greater than 1 Mb, such as immunoglobulin genes, can be introduced into animals. Kirin has applied this technology to the mouse and has developed a novel human antibody producing mouse, named the TransChromo (TC) Mouse™.  The TC Mouse™ carries the whole human immunoglobulin gene repertoire and is capable of producing a variety of fully human monoclonal antibodies.

Hematech is a pioneer in the development and production of antibodies for therapeutic uses. Hematech’s patented bovine transgenic technologies are expected to enable the Company to rapidly produce unlimited quantities of uniform, high affinity, fully human antibodies for a wide variety of disease targets. The Company’s long term focus is on addressing the severe shortage of broad specificity human polyclonal antibodies used in the treatment of immune deficiencies.

Polyclonal antibodies are useful for the treatment of various infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. Although polyclonal antibodies purified from human serum are currently available, their limited availability and low titers limit their clinical use. The TransChromo™ bovines are expected to produce large amounts of human polyclonal antibodies with high titers to relevant antigens.

Kirin is Japan’s foremost beer producer ranking eighth in the world by sales volume. Its pharmaceutical division is applying its knowledge of biotechnology to the development of advanced pharmaceutical products in the fields of nephrology, immunology and allergy, oncology, and blood cell production. Kirin’s recombinant DNA-based ESPO® (erythropoietin) and GRAN® (G-CSF), co-developed with Amgen, have annual sales exceeding $400 million in Asia.

Certain statements in this press release consist of forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, uncertainties regarding the development of new technology and new clinical products. Actual results, events or performance may differ materially.

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