PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: InVasc Therapeutics, Inc. ioLink Life Sciences, Inc. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE INVASC IN-LICENSES BIOLINK PATENT APPLICATION FOR ALPHA LIPOIC ACID SALT FOR USE IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE ATLANTA, Georgia – May 3, 2011 – InVasc Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on chronic kidney and cardiometabolic diseases, announced today the execution of an in-license agreement for a patent application related to a salt of an alpha lipoic acid derivative from BioLink Life Sciences, Inc. InVasc is developing a drug with alpha lipoic acid in combination with an antihypertensive for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. “We are very pleased to have finalized this worldwide exclusive license agreement,” stated William Johnston, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of InVasc. “Once issued, BioLink’s patent will add to the patent estate we are establishing to protect INV-144, a drug designed to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease.” The QUALITY trial, an earlier clinical study supported by InVasc and based on the combination of an ACE inhibitor with alpha lipoic acid, reached statistical significance for multiple endpoints related to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in hypertensive diabetic patients with early stage CKD. “We are delighted that InVasc has valued our prior work on R(+) alpha lipoic acid,” confirmed Deanna Nelson, the founder and President of BioLink. “At BioLink we are actively developing alpha lipoic acid for clinical indications that are independent of InVasc’s interests, and InVasc’s work actually will help support the development of our products.” About InVasc InVasc Therapeutics, Inc., headquartered in Tucker, Georgia, is a biopharmaceutical company developing drugs to mitigate risks associated with chronic kidney and cardiometabolic diseases. Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke and dyslipidemia are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The Company plans to initiate a Phase IIa clinical study for INV-144 targeting slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease in hypertensive diabetic patients. INV-144 is a combination of Losartan and
alpha lipoic acid. In a previous human clinical study, a sister compound (INV-141) demonstrated statistical significance in the reduction of proteinuria in the same patient population. InVasc’s pipeline development is supported by two recent SBIR grants. About BioLink BioLink Life Sciences, Inc., a drug technology company headquartered in Cary, NC, reformulates widely used, FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of major diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and chronic kidney disease. Each of BioLink’s patented drug reformulations is designed to provide safety and efficacy equivalent to the related FDA- approved drug, while eliminating many of the undesirable and unpleasant side effects that cause patients to stop taking the drug. This strategy significantly reduces both the time and costs associated with FDA approval of BioLink’s New Drug Applications. Moreover, this approach has the potential to reduce health care costs associated with these chronic diseases. Four SBIR grants have supported BioLink’s pipeline development, including an active grant for development of new treatments for hyperphosphatemia of CKD.
3562 Habersham at Northlake Pkwy, Bldg. J, Ste. A ♦ Tucker, GA 30084 ♦ Tel: (678) 736-5900
Nicholas Sitar Nick Sitar received his undergraduate degree in Geological Engineering from the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario in 1973, and his Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering from Stanford University in 1979. After receiving his Ph.D., he spent two years teaching in the Geological Engineering Program at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C. He joined the