2011

EPO grants patent for gp130 muteins with improved binding activity

13 Jul 2011

Kiel/Munich, the European Patent Office (EPO) announced the grant of a further gp130 patent (EP 2 212 347) claiming the production and use of new gp130 variants. These variants comprise certain mutations within their protein sequence, which render improved activity to bind to the soluble Interleukin-6/sInterleukin-6 receptor complex. These muteins may serve as back-up or follow-up compound for FE301 or could also be used in certain IL-6-driven niche indications.

2010

Three new patents granted in Japan, the US and Europe

14 Dec 2010

Kiel, One of the most important patents to protect optimized sgp130Fc variants has been granted by the European Patent Office on 8th September 2010 (Patent No. 1 873 166). And two additional fantastic news followed shortly afterwards: the grant of a patent for optimized sgp130 sequences in Japan on 29th September 2010 (Patent No. 465016) and last but not least the grant of a patent for soluble sgp130 variants in the United States on 14th December 2010 (Patent No. 8,851,182). "This means not only that we were able to reach the next milestone in the collaboration with our licensing partner Ferring, but also adds of further important steps to the development of our lead compound FE301", says CEO Dr. Dirk Seegert.

EPO grants new patent for sgp130Fc variants

23 Jun 2010

München/Kiel, today the European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich announced the grant of a new patent for sgp130. This patent protects the production and therapeutic use of new variants of the sgp130 fusion molecule. "In contrast to our parental sgp130Fc protein, certain parts of the extracellular domain of gp130 have been replaced by optimized linkers" says Dr. Dirk Seegert, Chief Executive Officer of the Conaris Research Institute AG. These variants provide advantages regarding their simplified molecular structure and subsequently their improved production and purification properties.

2009

USPTO grants first sgp130Fc patent in the USA

19 May 2009

Kiel (Germany), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued the first sgp130 patent in the US. This patent claims PEGylated forms of CONARIS' sgp130 proteins and their therapeutic use in several IL-6-driven diseases. Dr. Dirk Seegert (CEO): "After receiving the European patent grant for PEGylated sgp130 proteins in 2007, this new achievement represents another important milestone on the way into the world's most important pharma market."

Conaris receives 1.6 Mio BMBF grant

07 May 2009

Kiel and Bonn (Germany), today CONARIS received a 1.6 M EUR grant from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung; BMBF) in line with the economic support program "Innovative therapies on molecular and cellular basis". The project comprises toxicity studies which are relevant for a later IND filing and investigations on further target indications for sgp130Fc within the next 2 years. Collaboration partner is the Hannover Medical School (MHH, Germany). Dr. Dirk Seegert (CEO): "This grant is an important milestone for our work. We are very proud that we were able to convince the ministry about the quality of the project. This moves us significantly closer towards our aim, to start first clinical studies in 2011!"

2008

Conaris signs Licensing Agreement with Ferring Pharmaceuticals

10 Dec 2008

Saint Prex (Switzerland) and Kiel (Germany), 10 December 2008 - Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Conaris Research Institute AG today announced that they have completed an exclusive worldwide license agreement for the development of FE301 a new recombinant protein inhibitor of the IL-6 pathway for inflammatory conditions such as IBD and rheumatoid arthritis.

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EPO grants patent for optimized cDNA sequences of sgp130Fc

12 Jun 2008

The European Patent Office (EPO) grants a new patent (No. 1 630 232) in Europe claiming certain optimized cDNA sequences of CONARIS' lead product sgp130Fc. These sequences improve the stability of the corresponding mRNA and increase the production rate of the protein in CHO cells.

2007

EPO grants patent for PEGylated variants of sgp130Fc

11 Sep 2007

The European Patent Office (EPO) grants a new patent (No. 1 636 263) in Europe claiming the production of PEGylated variants of sgp130 proteins and their use in therapeutic compositions for the treatment of inflammatory and certain oncologic indications.

EPO grants core patent for sgp130Fc

22 Jun 2007

The European Patent Office (EPO) grants a CONARIS key patent (No. 1 148 065) for its lead product sgp130Fc, an anti-inflammatory drug candidate, in Europe. The patent claims the nucleotide and polypeptide sequences of the product, certain procedures for its production and isolation and its use for the treatment of several severe chronic diseases.

German Federal Minister of Education and Research visits Conaris

24 Apr 2007

The Federal Minister of Education and Research, Dr. Annette Schavan, visited Kiel to get informed about the successful collaborative network between academic institutions and business companies in Schleswig-Holstein. In this context, CONARIS' CEO Dr. Dirk Seegert presented details about current drug development projects, financing strategies and future public funding opportunities

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2006

Conaris receives 1.3 Mio grant from the BMBF

06 Apr 2006

CONARIS receives a 1.3 Mio EUR grant from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung; BMBF) for the preclinical development of its lead compound sgp130Fc.

2004

Conaris receives a 110.000 EUR grant from the BMBF

08 Jul 2004

CONARIS receives a 110.000 EUR grant from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung; BMBF) for the development of a technological platform for the functional evaluation of new therapeutic drugs. This project is part of the National Genome Research Network 2 (NGFN2).

2003

Conaris moves into new laboratory

01 Feb 2003

CONARIS moves into new laboratories and offices at the "Kieler Innovations- und Technologiezentrum" (KITZ).

Stefan Rose-John appointed as new member of Conaris' Advisory Board

01 Jan 2003

Prof. Stefan Rose-John (Director of the Institute of Biochemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel) becomes new member of CONARIS' Advisory Board and replaces Hans-Ulrich Behr. Stefan Rose-John has been working on the investigation of IL-6-mediated signaling processes for more than 15 years. He designed the first sgp130 fusion protein and performed pioneer studies to discover IL-6-induced transsignaling.

2002

Conaris receives a 910.000 EUR grant from the BMBF

19 Nov 2002

CONARIS receives a 910.000 EUR grant from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung; BMBF) for the development of inflammation-specific cDNA and protein arrays together with the biochip company SCIENION AG (Berlin).

Dirk Seegert appointed as new CEO of Conaris

01 Jul 2002

Dr. Dirk Seegert becomes new CEO/CSO of CONARIS. Before, he headed  the Cell Biology Laboratory, Mucosal Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UK-SH), Campus Kiel. The main focus of his work was on inflammation-associated signaling mechanisms. During this time, he was involved in the biological characterization of different new IBD markers.

Stefan Schreiber, Gerd Steinmann and Hans-Ulrich Behr appointed as members of Conaris Advisory Board

30 May 2002

Prof. Stefan Schreiber, Prof. Gerhard Steinmann and Hans-Ulrich Behr are nominated as members of CONARIS' Advisory Board.