News

Posted On: 08/24/2006

Altus Secures Althea Technology as Phase III Manufacturer

PharmaManufacturing.com

Altus Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of oral and injectable protein therapeutics for patients with gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders, announced Aug. 21 that it has signed an agreement with Althea Technologies, Inc. a contract manufacturing organization(CMO), to manufacture ALTU-238 for use in the planned Phase III clinical trials of that product candidate. ALTU-238 is being developed as a subcutaneously administered, once-per-week formulation of human growth hormone that employs Altus' proprietary protein crystallization and formulation technology.

"Althea Technologies is a seasoned CMO with significant experience in the manufacture of recombinant proteins," commented Sheldon Berkle, president and CEO of Cambridge, Mass.-based Altus. "We look forward to working together through technology transfer and the installation and qualification of the key equipment necessary for the production of ALTU-238. We feel confident in their ability to manufacture reliable quantities of ALTU-238 for our planned Phase III clinical trials that meet our high standards of quality and patient safety."

Dr. Magda Marquet, co-president and co-CEO of San Diego, Calif.-based Althea, commented: "We are very pleased that Altus has chosen to work with us at this critical time in the development of ALTU-238. As a leader in providing highly technical drug development services to the industry, we are committed to working with Altus to effectively and efficiently manufacture ALTU-238 through clinical evaluation of this promising new product candidate."

To learn more about Altus Pharmaceuticals Inc.,

visit http://www.altus.com. For more information on Althea Technologies, visit http://www.altheatech.com.