Arrowhead Research Subsidiary Founding Scientist, Dr. Mark E. Davis, Elected to the National Academy of Sciences PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 2006--Arrowhead Research Corporation (Nasdaq:ARWR), announced that Dr. Mark E. Davis, professor of chemical engineering at the California Institute of Technology, and founding scientist of Arrowhead subsidiaries Insert Therapeutics and Calando Pharmaceuticals, was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Already a member of the National Academy of Engineering, Dr. Davis is one of a few who hold both honors.
"Arrowhead is proud to congratulate Mark on this well-earned honor," said R. Bruce Stewart, Chairman, Arrowhead Research Corporation. "His work on therapeutic molecules and drug delivery has the potential to provide much improved treatments for a variety of devastating diseases, particularly cancer. His leadership at Insert and Calando has enabled each company to make tremendous progress toward bringing this technology to the clinic."
Dr. Davis led the research team at Caltech that developed Cyclosert(TM), a proprietary drug delivery platform technology exclusively licensed to Insert. The system is based on a nano-engineered class of linear cyclodextrin-containing polymers, designed to enable the manipulation of particle size and other characteristics to improve drug properties and performance. Insert expects to begin clinical trials with its lead anti-cancer compound, IT-101(TM), at the City of Hope Cancer Center shortly and is developing several other drug candidates.
At Calando, Dr. Davis is focusing his efforts on the development of RNAi therapeutics based on cyclodextrin-containing polycations, which aid in the delivery of the nucleic acid. Studies using Calando's proprietary technology have shown that a cyclodextrin-containing polycation delivery system can be used with RNA interference molecules to inhibit genes in cancer cells in animals, producing potent anticancer effects.
Dr. Davis is the Warren and Katharine Schlinger Professor of Chemical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology and a member of the Experimental Therapeutics Program of the Cancer Center at the City of Hope. For his work in rationally designed materials, Dr. Davis is also the recipient of other prestigious awards, including the National Science Foundation's Alan T. Waterman Award -- awarded annually to only one scientist in the United States across all disciplines. He holds over 35 patents, has published more than 350 papers and has presented over 500 seminars throughout the world.
About Arrowhead Research Corporation
Arrowhead Research Corporation (www.arrowheadresearch.com) is a diversified nanotechnology company structured to commercialize products expected to have revolutionary impacts on a variety of industries, including materials, electronics, life sciences, and energy.
There are three strategic components to Arrowhead's business model:
-- Outsourced R&D Program: Arrowhead identifies patented or patent-pending technologies at universities or government labs and funds additional development of those technologies in exchange for exclusive rights to commercialize the resulting prototypes. Leveraging the resources and infrastructure of these institutions provides Arrowhead with a cost-effective development pipeline. Currently, Arrowhead is supporting efforts in drug discovery tools, stem cell technology and nanoelectronics at the California Institute of Technology, Stanford University and Duke University, respectively.
-- Commercialization Program: After prototypes have been sufficiently developed in the laboratories, Arrowhead forms or acquires majority-owned subsidiaries to commercialize the technology and provides the subsidiaries with strategic, managerial and operational support. By doing so, each research team is able to maintain focus on its specific technology and each management team can focus on specific markets, increasing the likelihood of successful technological development and commercialization. At present, Arrowhead owns majority interest in subsidiaries commercializing diverse technologies, including anti-cancer drugs, RNAi therapeutics, compound semiconductor materials and nanotube technology.
-- The Patent Toolbox: Arrowhead has acquired or exclusively licensed patents and patent applications covering a broad range of nanotechnology. The Company actively adds to its intellectual property portfolio.
About Insert Therapeutics, Inc.
Insert Therapeutics, Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Arrowhead Research Corporation, is using its proprietary, nano-engineered, polymeric delivery system, Cyclosert(TM), to design, develop and commercialize drug-delivery-enhanced small-molecule therapeutics. Cyclosert uses cyclodextrins as building blocks to create an entirely new class of biocompatible materials -- linear cyclodextrin-containing polymers that are nontoxic and nonimmunogenic at therapeutic doses. The company is pursuing this goal through its own internal research and development, and also through collaborations and partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. For more information, visit www.insertt.com.
About Calando Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Calando Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Arrowhead Research Corporation, is creating new, targeted RNAi therapeutics. Calando combines proprietary technologies in targeted polymeric delivery systems and siRNA design to create therapeutics. The company is pursuing this goal through its internal research and development and also through collaborations and partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. For more information, visit www.calandopharma.com.
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This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including the recent economic slowdown affecting technology companies, the future success of our scientific studies, our ability to successfully develop products, rapid technological change in our markets, changes in demand for our future products, legislative, regulatory and competitive developments and general economic conditions. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A, recent and forthcoming Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and 10-Q/A, recent Current Reports on Forms 8-K and 8-K/A, our Registration Statement on Form S-3, and other SEC filings discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
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