euro adhoc: Intercell AG / Joint Ventures/Cooperation/Collaboration / Intercell and Kirin enter strategic alliance to develop antibodies for the treatment of severe pneumococcal infections

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Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc.
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06.04.2006

» Monoclonal antibodies against bacterial infections - a novel use
for Intercell's technologies with significant potential in
anti-infection applications, in addition to their current use in
the field of vaccines. » Streptococcus pneumoniae infections - a
field of rapidly growing medical importance with 1 of every 1000
elderly individuals infected in Europe and the United States each
year. » Kirin - a committed partner with an outstanding record in the
global development and commercialization of biological products. »
EUR 40 million agreement - including EUR 4 million upfront payment
and royalties on future net sales of the product.

Vienna (Austria), April 6, 2006 - Intercell AG (VSE "ICLL") today
announced that it has entered into a strategic alliance with Kirin
Brewery Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) to develop human monoclonal
antibodies against severe infections caused by Streptococcus
pneumoniae. Pneumococcal diseases, particularly those affecting the
elderly (over 65 years), is a field of rapidly growing medical
importance.

Under the agreement, Kirin obtains global rights to develop and
commercialize antibodies directed against antigens that have been
detected by Intercell's proprietary Antigen Identification Program
(AIP®). This technology identifies antigens that are protective in
vaccines, but are also suitable targets for blocking the pathogens'
infectivity. The parties will collaborate in the pre-clinical
development of the product, with Kirin being responsible for the
clinical development, registration and marketing of the product.

Over the term of the agreement, Intercell is entitled to milestone
payments totaling at approximately EUR 40 million, including an
upfront payment of EUR 4 million, and will receive significant
royalties on future net sales of the product. In addition, Intercell
will be compensated for its development contributions.

The development of antibacterial antibodies represents an entirely
new field for the treatment of certain infections. "This is just the
first step in a broad application of our technology in this growing
and increasingly important field of modern medicine. We believe this
will generate additional revenues for our company", states Gerd
Zettlmeissl, Intercell's Chief Executive Officer. "Our partner Kirin
has an outstanding record in the global development and
commercialization of biological products and an exceptional
commitment to the field of infectious diseases."

"Intercell's Antigen Identification Program is an extremely
successful technology delivering very promising validated targets for
monoclonal antibodies", comments Dr. Katsuhiko Asano, President,
Pharmaceutical Division of Kirin. "The combination of both companies'
technologies offers exciting possibilities to address therapeutic
needs. We believe that Kirin's expertise in generating fully human
antibodies using the KM MouseTM should allow us to discover new drugs
to treat and cure pneumococcal infections."

About Streptococcus pneumoniae infections

Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Pneumococcus, is a type of bacteria that
mainly affects individuals at the extremities of ages, such as
infants and elderly and individuals with certain pre-existing
diseases (most typically following influenza). Invasive pneumococcal
diseases, such as pneumonia, bacteremia and meningitis, cause more
deaths worldwide than all other vaccine-preventable diseases
combined. Mortality rates reach 30 to 40 % for individuals aged 60
years or older. In Europe and the United States, it is estimated that
pneumococcal pneumonia alone affects 1 out of every 1000 elderly each
year. Currently available vaccines that are used for the preventive
vaccination of the elderly are suboptimal. As resistance to
antibiotics has increasingly become a problem and current medical
treatment even with appropriate antibiotics is not very effective,
new therapeutics based on modern human antibody technology have
become increasingly important and constitute significant market
opportunity.

About Monoclonal Antibodies

Antibodies are an important part of the body's natural defense system
and are normally produced by our immune system to help our bodies
fight disease. Antibodies are proteins that seek out, recognize and
bind to a particular site on cells, bacteria and other organisms in a
highly specific manner. This specificity makes antibodies useful in
the treatment of many types of disease, and antibodies have
relatively few side effects since they are a part of the body's own
natural immune system.

Worldwide, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as
universities, are exploring monoclonal antibody technology to develop
new therapeutic and in vivo diagnostic products. Therapeutic antibody
products are currently on the market for a variety of indications,
including cancer, heart disease, and transplant rejection. To date,
17 monoclonal antibody products are approved by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration for use as therapeutic products in the United
States.

According to the analyst firm Datamonitor, the therapeutic antibody
market is expected to triple in size by 2010 as a result of
significant technology advancements and commercialization of a number
of safer, more effective humanized and fully human antibodies. Global
sales of the monoclonal antibodies market increased by 48 % in 2004
and passed the USD 10 billion (EUR 7.8 billion) mark, building on the
momentum from previous years.

About Kirin

Kirin is Japan's foremost beer producer. Established in 1982, the
pharmaceutical division of Kirin is applying its knowledge of
biotechnology to the development of advanced pharmaceutical products
in the fields of renal disease, cancer and hematological diseases,
immunological and allergy-related diseases, and infectious diseases.
Kirin's leading products are ESPO® (erythropoietin) and GRAN®
(G-CSF), which are marketed in Asia by Kirin and its affiliates.
Kirin's pharmaceutical division has now expanded its technology
platform to include human antibodies and a cell-based therapeutic
vaccine. For more information, please visit:
www.kirin.co.jp/english.

end of announcement euro adhoc 06.04.2006 06:50:00
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ots Originaltext: Intercell AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:
Intercell AG
Mag. Katharina Wieser
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel. +43 1 20620-303
kwieser@intercell.com

Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: AT0000612601
WKN: A0D8HW
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / official market


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