Pepscan Makes Impressive Progress in 2003
Considerable Increase of Income and Strategic Alliance with
PowderJect/Chiron brings Company in Black Figures for the First Time
Lelystad, February 9, 2004
Pepscan, the Lelystad-based biopharmaceutical company, has had a successful year. For the first time
since its incorporation, the Company closed a year with a considerable profit, triggered by a 40%
increase in sales together combined with milestone payments from collaboration with
PowderJect/Chiron that started during the course of 2003.
Joost van Bree, CEO of Pepscan: "We have had an exciting year in which we have made enormous
progress. Pepscan is now well underway to build its position as global player in peptide-based products
and services".
Pepscan focuses on peptide-related products and services. These are offered to the global life-science
community and internally used to build a pipeline of therapeutic vaccines
A major development in 2003 was the world-premiere introduction of peptide chips: PepChipsTM. These
peptide micro-arrays containing up to ten thousand peptides per cm
2
are now used by the
pharmaceutical industry for screening and discovery of novel drugs.
The 2003 agreement with PowderJect/Chiron comprises the further development of a peptide-based
vaccine for the treatment of prostate cancer. The product is currently in the last phase of the preclinical
development and will enter clinical testing in the second half of 2004.
Pepscan is looking for new investors for further growth and development of the company and is in
discussion with several interested parties. Van Bree: "We are looking to attract additional financial
means this year to exploit the potential of our company at full speed."
Pepscan Systems BV is a Dutch biotechnology company located in Lelystad. Pepscan focuses on the
development of therapeutic synthetic vaccines directed against hormones that play a role in the
formation of tumours, growth of tumours and proliferation of tumours. Pepscan uses advanced chemical
technologies for identification and reconstruction of the crucial parts of proteins. This unique technology
combines peptide chemistry, surface chemistry, supramolecular chemistry and linkage chemistry to
identify and reconstruct even the most complex protein interaction sites. This combination allows the
development of highly effective therapeutic vaccines and synthetic antibodies. The methods are based
on more than 15 years of experience and are well protected by worldwide patents.
Pepscan currently employs 25 highly qualified workers. The fast growing income mainly comes from
research contracts with top tier pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Further information can be obtained from.
