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Platinum compounds have been used in cancer therapy for more than 25 years. Scientists from around the world recently met in New York City for the 9th ISPCC conference (International Symposium on Platium Coordination Compounds in Cancer Chemotherapy) to discuss new developments in anti-tumor substances based on platinum. The symposium was supported by a number of companies that are active in this sector. One of the sponsors was the Pharma business unit of W.C. Heraeus, which produces active pharmaceutical ingredients for cancer treatment.

“Most people aren´t even aware of the elementary role that platinum components have played for the past 25 years in the treatment of a wide variety of different cancers”, said Dr, Holger Rauter, Development Manager of Business Unit Pharma.

The special focus of the conference was on the two most prominent plantium components of cancer treatment: Cisplatin and Carboplatin. “Cisplatin and Carboplatin have the ability to inhibit the division of living cancer cells as a consequence can largely prevent a dispersion of the cells”, explained Rauter.

Since more than 20 years Heraeus is known to be an expert for the synthesis of platinum based anti-cancer APIs. Coming from platinum chemistry and precious metal refining we have an excellent basis for this business.

Precious metal based APIs, such as Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Oxaliplatin and others were the launching pad to extend our activities to further, non-precious metal based substances – such as, e.g., Dacarbazine, Thiotepa. This step into organic chemistry was made about 6 years ago and was accompanied by the broadening of our technical capabilities and capacities.

Today Heraeus is a specialist for highly potent APIs (HAPIs) with extraordinary claims for product, staff and environmental protection. We are focused on small volume HAPIs which are difficult to develop, to produce and to handle.

After adding the organic chemistry to our portfolio now we are ready to meet the next challenge:

There is a remarkable demand for substances which cannot be economically produced by chemical synthesis only. As competitive pricing is a key to the success of novel and generic drugs, for these kind of products a broad application is closely linked to more efficient manufacturing techniques.

For that reason Heraeus is on its way to install fermentation capacities for HAPIs at its new facility in Hanau. Together with downstream chemical processes this state-of-the-art equipment will serve to produce selected HAPIs in superior quality with an excellent impurity profile and attractive cost structures.

The commercial fermentation unit and a dedicated biochemistry lab will be installed during 2005. Our first substances in this area will be Epirubicin and Idarubicin, surely followed by additional products in the near future.

The equipment will be operated under cGMP, and we will apply for approval of the manufactured HAPIs by the FDA, the European and other authorities.

Beside the new type of equipment a crucial factor in this project is the adoption of know-how at our Business Unit Pharma: the handling of gene modified bacteria strains which have to be regarded as the basis of highly economic and efficient processes.

Although it may surprise that “Heraeus goes fermentation” we consider this as another milestone in our main objective to develop, produce and market small-volume HAPIs in superior quality together with an excellent service. Thus we will broaden our portfolio with very interesting products, future orientated technology and make completely new technical options available to our customers.

Successfull GMP-Audit by German authorities

We are pleased to inform you about a successful GMP-Audit conducted by the responsible German authorities

at the Heraeus site in Hanau on March 25/26, 2004.

This audit covered our API manufacturing facilities QA/QC as well as documentation regarding Cisplatin, Carboplatin,

Dacarbazine and Thiotepa.

GMP certificates are available on request, so please let us know in case we can be of any assistance.

Platinum compounds have been used in cancer therapy for more than 25 years. Scientists from around the world recently met in New York City for the 9th ISPCC conference (International Symposium on Platium Coordination Compounds in Cancer Chemotherapy) to discuss new developments in anti-tumor substances based on platinum. The symposium was supported by a number of companies that are active in this sector. One of the sponsors was the Pharma business unit of W.C. Heraeus, which produces active pharmaceutical ingredients for cancer treatment.

“Most people aren´t even aware of the elementary role that platinum components have played for the past 25 years in the treatment of a wide variety of different cancers”, said Dr, Holger Rauter, Development Manager of Business Unit Pharma.

The special focus of the conference was on the two most prominent plantium components of cancer treatment: Cisplatin and Carboplatin. “Cisplatin and Carboplatin have the ability to inhibit the division of living cancer cells as a consequence can largely prevent a dispersion of the cells”, explained Rauter.

By supporting an participating in the conference with a corporate presentation and a scientific poster, the Business Unit Pharma wants to make people more familiar with the name Heraeus in the area of institutional research as a service provider in the fields of API manufacturing, synthesis and development.

We are pleased to inform you about a successful GMP-Audit conducted by the responsible German authorities

at the Heraeus site in Hanau on March 25/26, 2004.

This audit covered our API manufacturing facilities QA/QC as well as documentation regarding Cisplatin, Carboplatin,

Dacarbazine and Thiotepa.

GMP certificates are available on request, so please let us know in case we can be of any assistance.

LONDON and HANAU, Germany, June 2, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Cancer drug developer Antisoma (LSE:ASM) announces that it has signed an agreement with German specialist manufacturer Heraeus to provide supplies of AS1410 for clinical trials. Development of the drug, which is Antisoma's lead telomere targeting agent (TTA), has progressed rapidly, and the Company now expects its plan to start clinical trials next year will be achieved during the first half of 2006.

TTAs attack cancer cells by binding directly to telomeres, which are regions at the ends of chromosomes. Data presented at the 2005 meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research showed that treatment with AS1410 more than halved the growth rate of a human prostate cancer xenograft. Moreover, the drug has the benefit of a relatively rapid onset of action, affecting tumour growth after only seven days' treatment in the prostate model. AS1410 has broad commercial potential because telomeres play a major role in the survival and proliferation of cells in all types of cancer.

Glyn Edwards, CEO of Antisoma, said: "We're pleased to renew our successful collaboration with Heraeus and to bring closer the clinical trials of AS1410. With our ATTACK agent AS1409 also expected to enter the clinic next year, we look forward to a considerable enhancement of our pipeline through the addition of two high-potential products."

Except for the historical information presented, certain matters discussed in this statement are forward looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties may be associated with product discovery and development, including statements regarding the company's clinical development programmes, the expected timing of clinical trials and regulatory filings. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially.

Background on AS1410

The TTAs under development at Antisoma were invented by Professor Stephen Neidle and his collaborators at the Institute of Cancer Research and the London School of Pharmacy. They were licensed by Antisoma through Cancer Research Technology, a subsidiary of Cancer Research UK. AS1410 was selected as the lead drug from the TTA programme in December 2004.

TTAs work by direct binding to telomeres. These are protective regions found at the ends of chromosomes (the structures into which DNA is packaged in each cell of the body). In normal cells, telomeres shorten slightly with each round of cell division until they become critically short, causing the cell to enter the self-destruct programme of apoptosis. Most cancer cells make the enzyme telomerase, which maintains the length of telomeres and allows the cells to avoid apoptosis. A number of drugs have been developed that inhibit telomerase. These are generally characterised by a slow onset of action because they require rounds of cell division to 'run down' the telomeres to the point where apoptosis ensues. TTAs by contrast act more rapidly, binding to the telomere itself and destabilising it. One clear effect is the uncapping of chromosome ends leading to lethal end-to-end chromosome fusions. The action of TTAs is believed to involve prevention of telomerase binding to the telomere. However, it must have other facets because the drugs show broad effectiveness against cancer cell lines, including the minority that use alternative, non-telomerase mechanisms to maintain their telomeres.

For many years, W.C. Heraeus has been engaged in the field of highly potent anti-cancer agents through its Business Unit Pharma. A few years ago, this was still a relatively small-scale activity. Today, it is an attractive business in an interesting niche market in which W.C. Heraeus is an internationally recognized specialist.

In addition to outstanding specialized clinics for the treatment of patients, the research and development of new drugs and the better use of known active ingredients, providing social care for patients and their families is immensely important. This is especially true in case of children with cancer, where support plays an extremely significant role. Heraeus considers itself responsible in this respect as well and is therefore supporting a non-profit parent initiative for children with leukaemia and tumors with a donation of 10.000 euros.

The association –whose members are all volunteers- have been serving children and their families since 1983.

As part of the “Rainbow Station” at the Würzburg university clinic, the organisation supports everyone affected with advice and practical assistance.

The members –for the most part parents of children with cancer- help equip the station and provide assistance to the children and their families. The also take care of the housing the parents locally and follow-up care and provide advice on social and legal issues.

“Heraeus has decided to sponsor all of these activities financially”, explained Michael Schwarz, Manager of BU Pharma. In addition to providing first-class drugs to combat cancer, we want to make a social contribution to the treatment of the disease. We are pleased the supoort this initative in this valuable work for children with leukemia and tumors.

The Pharma business Unit of W.C. Heraeus is supporting the non-profit organization Elterninitiative leukämie – und tumorkranker Kinder e.V.” with a 10,000 euro donation.

„The social support of cancer patients and their familiy members ist extremely important“, said Michael Schwarz, when presenting the check to Prof. Schlegel, Director of the Pediatric Oncology/Stem Cell Therapy department at the Würzburg university clinic. “This is especially true in case of children with cancer , where support plays an extremely significant role. Heraeus is aware of its exceptional social responsibility. This is why we feel a special commitment to financially support the association`s extraordinary and invaluable work as we did last year”, said Schwarz.

Dr Wissmann added; “In addition to providing first –class drugs to combat cancer, we want to make a social contribution to the treatment of the disease.

The Elterninitiative leukämie – und tumorkranker Kinder e.V association, which is wholly volunteer-run, has been supporting seriously ill children and their families since 1983. As part of the “Rainbow station” at the university clinic, the organization supports everyone affected with advice and practical assistance.

The members –for the most parents of children with cancer- help equip the station and provide assistance to the children and their families. They also take care of housing the parents locally, arrange follow-up care, and provide consulting on social and legal issues.

Another extraordinary important activity if the initiative is a support group for “orphaned” partents. The initiative also organizes and finances outpatient pediatric nurses who nurse and care for patients in their homes- especially in cases where the child no longer has any change of survival.

Their homepage www.stationregenbogen.de gives a more in-depth impression of its activities.

For many years, Business Unit Pharma has been engaged in the field of highly potent APIs and considers itself a service provider in the areas of active ingredients production, synthesis and analytics and works with numerous customers around the world on the exclusive development of new active ingredients.

A microphotoreactor for manufacturing high yields of the active ingredients used in chemotherapy drugs (such as irinotecan); a new generation of durable synthetic quartz glass for microlithography; and a new dippable solder paste for precision soldering on printed circuit boards for the semiconductor industry—these are the prizewinning developments recognized with the 2007 Heraeus Innovation Award at a festive event last week in Hanau. Top honors, including a prize of €2500, went to Silvia Werner of the W. C. Heraeus GmbH Pharma business unit. Dr. Stephan Thomas of Heraeus Quarzglas won second prize for developing Suprasil 501. Paul Niemczura of the Contact Materials Division of W. C. Heraeus earned third place.

The prizewinners received a gold medal commemorating the award from Dr. Frank Heinricht, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Management of Heraeus Holding GmbH, and Dr. Jürgen Heraeus, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Heraeus Holding GmbH and the patron of the event. This marks the fifth annual Heraeus Innovation Award. A record number of Heraeus employees submitted entries - 37 in all, and 19 from W. C. Heraeus alone. Twelve entries came from employees in the United States.

“Innovations should open new market segments and generate platforms for new technologies for our companies—and that is exactly what these and previous Innovation Award winners have done,” said Dr. Frank Heinricht, underscoring the significance of their achievements. Dr. Heraeus encouraged this year’s prizewinners to continue their research efforts: “Your enthusiasm, commitment and fascination with developing and implementing new ideas are the driving forces of innovation.”

The Heraeus Innovation Award was first awarded in 2003. All Heraeus researchers and developers worldwide are eligible to participate. Heraeus conceived the Innovation Award to make innovations that are often hidden in the company visible and at the same time appropriately honor the achievements and talents of the researchers and developers

This year, Heraeus once again made a €10.000 donation to support a Würzburg-based non-profit partents` iniative for children with leukaemia and cancer. This is the third time Heraeus has donated to this cause. “As specialist in the production of highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients to treat cancer, we want to reaffirm our commitment to social responsibility this year. We are happy that we have been able to support the parents` initiative and their important work for the past three years”, said Michael Schwarz, who together with Dr. Friedrich Wissmann directs the Pharma business at Heraeus.

Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company specialising in the development and commercialisation of innovative oncological products aimed at alleviating the lives of people suffering from cancer.

Pico platinum, the mainstay of the company’s product range, represents a new generation of therapy involving platinum and offers a far improved element of safety. It was developed to overcome and prevent the resistance to platinum displayed by solid tumours as a result of chemotherapy.

The clinical studies using intravenous Pico platinum include several trials based on small cell lung cancer. "The mutual co-operation with Heraeus is an important step in the development of Pico platinum as a commercially viable product in the field of oncology and will also help to safeguard the supply of Pico platinum for patients and oncologists alike once FDA approval has been granted”, stated Ronald Martell, President and Chief Operating Officer of Poniard Pharmaceuticals.

“Heraeus as a leading manufacturer of pharmaceutical products from precious metals and a forerunner in synthesis chemistry opens the possibility for Poniard to now move into large-scale production and also has the necessary capacity to meet up to our production and quality standards”, he further explained.

Pico platinum is a chemotherapeutical substance with an improved mode of effectiveness compared to existing platinum chemotherapeutic agents. It was basically devised to overcome the resistance to platinum encountered in the treatment of solid tumours. The use of Pico platinum has been evaluated in more than 750 patients and its anti-tumour effect successfully proven, with far less incidents of kidney and nerve poisoning than is the case in other platinum medication in general use in chemotherapy.

We can’t change the diagnosis but we can brighten up the general surroundings

Pediatric cancer ward – a word that immediately triggers fears and trepidation. Here live children who are marked by a very serious illness and an arduous course of therapy, but who nevertheless are able to laugh, play and be happy. It is no coincidence that the ward has been given the name “Rainbow”. It is a place where the dark side of life exists right alongside the light, and most of all, where hope prevails.

This will be the fourth time that Heraeus has given its support to the non-profit making association “Rainbow Ward – Parents’ Initiative for Children with Leukemia and Tumour-related Illnesses Wurzburg, reg. soc.” by making a donation of 10.000 Euro.

“As specialists in the manufacture of highly potent pharmaceutical ingredients in the fight against cancer we have a most particular obligation, and once again this year we wish to fulfill our social responsibility. We hope that our donation will go towards realizing projects that in turn will help to make everyday life in the clinic just that more easier to bear,” explained Michael Schwarz, Head of the Business Unit Pharma at W. C. Heraeus. Dr. Friedrich Wissmann, Joint Head of the W. C. Heraeus Business Unit Pharma added, “Through the project to provide out-patient pediatric nurses for children with cancer we are supporting families who fall into an emotional chasm having once put the strenuous and draining in-patient therapy in the hospital behind them.”

Out-patient pediatric nurses for children with cancer on the Rainbow ward

Parents who received counseling and support from the hospital suddenly have to stand on their own two feet and take over the sole responsibility for the care of their child. Naturally, there is a great sense of fear and uncertainty at the prospect. In addition, there is the dread of a relapse. By having a professional out-patient nurses come into the domestic environment to help provide care, the patient’s family has recourse to a competent and responsible person, who is in a position to alleviate worries and in the long term even shorten the stay in hospital for the child by a substantial time.

An out-patient pediatric nurse is of particular value in the case of a child who can no longer be healed and who wishes to spend the rest of its life at home. “It is very beneficial for such a child to be visited and given attention by a familiar person from “its own” ward, according to Ms. Lochner from the Team Rainbow reg. soc.