Novimmune Sponsors Matthew and Andrew Akin Foundation '700 Miles to Hope' Bicycle Ride

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND--(Marketwired - Sep 14, 2015) - Novimmune, a Swiss biotech company focused on the discovery and development of antibody-based drugs for the targeted treatment of inflammatory diseases, immune-related disorders and cancer, proudly announces that it is a $150,000 Matching Sponsor of the Matthew and Andrew Akin Foundation "700 Miles to Hope" bicycle ride. Novimmune's donation will be used to provide financial aid to families that relocate to Cincinnati or other expert centers to receive treatment for Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).

The seven-day, 700 mile event began on Saturday, September 12, with riders leaving Jackson, Mississippi and traversing five states before arriving at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center on Friday, September 18. Saturday's kickoff marked the fifth year of the interstate bike ride. Adrian Mills, Novimmune's Chief Business Officer, is participating in the week-long event for the second consecutive year.

"We are once again very proud to partner with the Akin Foundation to support this worthy cause," said Jack Barbut, Novimmune CEO. "Discovering a safe and effective treatment for HLH is a core focus for us at Novimmune. We understand the great challenges patients and families face when dealing with this devastating childhood disease, so we are grateful to partner with the Akin Foundation in order to increase awareness and support the cause to help fight HLH."

For more information about HLH and the event, please visit the foundation website at www.matthewandandrew.org.

HLH is a severe immune system disorder caused by an overactive and poorly controlled T cell function that triggers aberrant activation of the immune system. The primary form of the disease typically arises in pediatric patients and is lethal if untreated. Even with the current best available care, HLH has a high rate of mortality.

Novimmune is currently testing a new drug, NI-0501, as a first-line treatment for HLH. The drug is the first treatment specifically developed for HLH. NI-0501 is a fully human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the interferon gamma, a cell-signaling protein believed to play a pivotal role in the development of HLH. In the ongoing phase II study, NI-0501 was initially administered to patients showing unsatisfactory response or intolerance to conventional therapies including chemotherapy, immune-suppressive medicines, and immune-depleting drugs. The recently approved amendment to the protocol with the US Food and Drug Administration as well as the European regulatory authorities allows NI-0501 to be administered to patients as a first-line treatment before any other intervention. 

The study is currently underway at five investigational sites in the US and one site in five European countries.

About Novimmune

Novimmune SA is a Swiss biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of antibody-based drugs for the targeted treatment of inflammatory diseases, immune-related disorders, and cancer. The company is headquartered in Geneva. More information is available on the company website at www.novimmune.com.