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| |  MP4 Apogen Treatment For Multiple Sclerosis Reverses Paralysis NEW HAVEN, Conn., Oct. 1, 1996 -- Researchers at Alexion Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ALXN) today announced the results of a study in which its proprietary Apogen compound, MP4, demonstrated significant amelioration of multiple sclerosis-like disease in animals. Published in today's issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the study provides new evidence that MP4 may be an effective novel treatment for MS. The paper is authored by John Mueller, Ph.D., senior scientist at Alexion, and colleagues. In the study, MP4 was shown to completely prevent disease in a standard animal model of MS called experimental allergic encephalitis ("EAE"). MP4 was highly effective in treating disease, caused by T-cells specific for both myelin basic protein (MBP) and proteolipid protein (PLP), the two major protein components of myelin. Myelin is the protective sheath that provides insulation for nerves in the brain. "MP4 treatment was highly effective in reversing the course of disease in animals with already established EAE, which has positive implications for the treatment of patients already diagnosed with MS," said Louis Matis, M.D., vice president of research immunology at Alexion and a co-author of the study. "In contrast to treatment with individual protein fragments, or peptides, which address only a fraction of the disease causing T-cells, MP4, an intact Apogen protein, is designed to simultaneously eliminate multiple populations of disease-causing T-cells and achieve enhanced therapeutic efficacy." Alexion's Apogen compounds are highly specific recombinant antigens designed to selectively induce autoreactive, disease causing T-cells to undergo apoptosis, or cell suicide. In patients with certain auto immune diseases, such as MS and diabetes mellitus, these apoptosis-inducing antigens are designed to eliminate disease-causing T-cells while preserving disease-fighting T-cells. The Company's compounds were initially based on discoveries made at the National Institutes of Health ("NIH") which are now exclusively licensed to Alexion. MS is the most common disease-related cause of neurologic disability in early to mid adulthood, affecting more than 350,000 Americans. It is twice as common in women as in men. MS causes crippling loss of muscle control and coordination, which may lead to paralysis, and in some cases, death. In some sufferers, MS also causes loss of sensory functions and mental acuity. There is substantial evidence that central nervous system damage in MS is caused by T-cells that recognize myelin protein antigens in the brain. "We are enthusiastic about the potential clinical benefit of MP4 therapy in MS and plan to initiate clinical trials with MP4 in MS patients during 1997," said Leonard Bell, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Alexion. "We are also developing our Apogen technology for application to other severe and debilitating diseases, such as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis and myasthenia gravis." Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., was founded in 1992 and is engaged in the development of selective immunotherapeutic drugs that generally are designed to inhibit the disease-causing segments of the immune system while preserving the disease-preventing aspects of the immune system. The Company is developing three technology platforms: C5 Complement Inhibitors and Apogen T-Cell Therapeutics which together target severe cardiovascular and autoimmune disorders; and xenografts for organ transplants. This news release contains forward-looking statements. The actual results could vary from those expected due to a variety of risks set forth from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to its reports on Form 10Q and its Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33300202). The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any of these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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