Vancouver, British Columbia – July 23, 2014 – Sirona Biochem Corp. (TSX-V: SBM.V OTCQX: SRBCF, FSE: ZSB), (the “Company”) today announced that Wanbang Biopharmaceuticals has completed two pre-clinical efficacy studies of its SGLT2 inhibitor SBM-TFC-039. The studies independently confirm that SBM-TFC-039 increased Urinary Glucose Excretion and improved Oral Glucose Tolerance in normal SD rats. The results were consistent with those previously completed by Sirona Biochem.
The next steps in the validation of SBM-TFC-039 will be the Pharmacokinetic study and the 14 day toxicology repeated administration on normal SD rats. If further positive results are obtained, as expected, Wanbang will have completed the first milestone of its license agreement with Sirona Biochem. This will trigger a second payment to Sirona from Wanbang Biopharmaceuticals, part of the $9.5M in upfront and milestone payments.
According to a 2013 study* published in The Journal of the American Medical Association the People’s Republic of China now has the greatest prevalence of diabetes. It is estimated that 11.6% of the adult population or 114 million people are affected; this is the first time that a country has surpassed the United States, which has an estimated 11.3% living with the disease.
It is also estimated that approximately half of all Chinese adults, a total of 493 million people, could be suffering from pre-diabetes, a preliminary stage in which the sugar metabolism is already disturbed, but diabetes is not yet present.
“Wanbang Biopharmaceuticals dedication to quickly advancing this project to clinical trials confirms the strength of Sirona’s partnership with China’s top ranked diabetes pharmaceutical company. The value of this pharmaceutical to Sirona grows both within China, home of the world’s largest Diabetic population and outside China to other potential pharmaceutical partners”, said Howard Verrico, Chief Executive Officer of Sirona Biochem.
*http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1734701
About Wanbang Biopharmaceuticals
Wanbang Biopharmaceuticals is a leading pharmaceutical company in the People’s Republic of China that specializes in research, production and marketing of medicines for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and endocrinology. Among domestic pharmaceutical companies, Wanbang Biopharmaceuticals is one of the largest manufacturers and marketers of a comprehensive portfolio of drugs for diabetes.
Wanbang Biopharmaceuticals is a subsidiary of Shanghai Pharmaceutical Group which is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Fosun Pharma, one of the major shareholders of Sinopharm Group , the largest drug distributor in China, is part of Fosun International, the leading non-state owned enterprise group in China which is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
About Sirona Biochem
Sirona Biochem is a cosmetic ingredient and drug discovery company with a proprietary technology platform developed at its laboratory facility in France. The company specializes in the stabilization of carbohydrate molecules, with the goal of improving compounds’ efficacy and safety. Sirona Biochem’s compounds are patented as new chemical entities for maximum commercial protection and revenue potential. Newly developed compounds are licensed to leading companies around the world in return for licensing and milestone fees and ongoing royalty payments. TFChem, Sirona Biochem’s wholly-owned French laboratory is a recipient of multiple French national scientific awards and a European Union and French government grant. For more information visit www.sironabiochem.com
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For more information regarding this press release, contact:
Christopher Hopton
CFO
Sirona Biochem Corp.
Phone: 1.604.282.6064
Email: chopton@sironabiochem.com
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Sirona Biochem cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon current expectations and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of release of the relevant information, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, Sirona Biochem’s forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Sirona Biochem’s business including, without limitation, statements about: the progress and timing of its clinical trials; difficulties or delays in development, testing, obtaining regulatory approval, producing and marketing its products; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of its products that could delay or prevent product development or commercialization; the scope and validity of patent protection for its products; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and its ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations. Sirona Biochem does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.