AMBRX LAUNCHES STUDY OF GROWTH HORMONE PRODUCT

Ambrx has initiated a Phase I/II clinical trial of ARX201, a novel, next-generation human growth hormone product candidate.

The Phase I/II dose-finding study in adult patients with growth hormone deficiency will investigate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of ARX201 following single escalation and repeated dosing. Ambrx expects to complete the trial by the end of 2007.

"With ARX201, we believe that we have the opportunity to develop a product that will significantly benefit patients suffering from growth hormone deficiency by reducing the frequency of dosing from daily to once-weekly or, potentially, even less frequently," Martin Mattingly, president and CEO of Ambrx, said.

Ambrx's ARX201 product candidate is a recombinant form of human growth hormone that has been modified using the company's patented ReCODE technology to achieve precise spatial positioning of the site of polyethylene glycol attachment, by biosynthetic incorporation of a chemically unique amino acid. The company believes that ARX201 may have improved pharmacological performance over existing growth hormone products, including requiring less frequent dosing.