Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MNTA)

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Momenta Pharmaceuticals Announces Presentation of Data Supporting Sialylation Platform

Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) and Autoimmune Disease Preclinical Data Will be Presented at 10th Annual PEGS Meeting -
GlobeNewswire Momenta Pharmaceuticals

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 2, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MNTA), a biotechnology company specializing in the characterization and engineering of complex drugs, will present its approach to designing novel therapeutics by applying site-specific sialylation to Fc glycans in IVIg, monoclonal antibodies, and other recombinant Fc-containing proteins, in a presentation entitled "Embracing Complexity: Understanding IVIg to Rationally Engineer Novel Therapeutics". The presentation will be given by Tony Manning, Ph.D., Vice President of Research at Momenta, at 12:10 pm on Monday, May 5, 2014 at the PEGS annual meeting in Boston.

Momenta has thoroughly characterized a wide range of IVIg preparations to understand the detailed composition of this plasma-derived product. Using molecular, cellular, and animal models of disease, supplemented by an analysis of samples from human patients treated with IVIg, the company has developed a detailed understanding of the biological basis for the therapeutic effects of IVIg. Momenta scientists now have a broad and comprehensive understanding of the composition of IVIg and its mechanism of action as an anti-inflammatory therapeutic. This research has informed the company's approach to the rational design of several novel, differentiated therapeutic agents.

Momenta has also optimized the process for applying site-specific sialylation to Fc glycans in antibodies, including IVIg and monoclonal antibodies, as well as other recombinant Fc-containing proteins. In his presentation, Dr. Manning will present data that demonstrate the enhanced anti-inflammatory activity of these sialylated agents across a broad range of animal models of autoimmune disease, including inflammatory arthritis, immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), pemphigus, and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Finally, Dr. Manning will discuss how this research has led to approaches for rationally engineering other novel recombinant product candidates which display potential as broad anti-inflammatory therapeutics.

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