Bio Screening Industry News

CEO Dr. Dominik Escher to Present at Upcoming Investor Meetings: 5th Annual
Biotech in Europe Investment Forum and Rodman & Renshaw

ZURICH, Switzerland and BOSTON, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ — ESBATech AG, a
developer of human antibody fragment therapeutics today named Alfred E.
Slanetz, Ph.D. as its corporate development representative. Alfred E.
Slanetz, Ph.D. of Slanetz Associates is now working with ESBATech on corporate
development activities. Dr. Slanetz was previously VP, Business Development
of Transgene and commercial leader on a number of Genentech’s product
development teams. Dr. Slanetz received his Ph.D. in immunology and molecular
biology from Yale University.
ESBATech’s CEO Dominik Escher, Ph.D. commented on today’s announcement,
“We are at an exciting time in ESBATech’s development as we progress ESBA105
into clinical development. Having representation in the US, in particular in
Boston, provides us with a larger pool of intellectual capital and potential
financiers. It makes sense to have a strong presence in the global center of
the biotechnology industry. With Dr. Slanetz on board for corporate
development and representation by the team at LaVoie Strategic Communications
Group, we have the beginnings of Boston office for ESBATech.”
ESBATech is developing its lead product, ESBA105, for several anti-
inflammatory indications with large unmet medical needs. ESBA105 neutralizes
the clinically validated target, TNF alpha. Using the Company’s proprietary
Immuna platform and its novel antibody fragments, ESBATech researchers
identified, characterized and optimized ESBA105 and demonstrated animal proof-
of-concept in less than twelve months. Based on strong pre-clinical data, the
Company is planning to begin clinical trials of ESBA105 in late 2006.
ESBATech is also applying small molecule, high throughput screening
systems (HTS) for efficient hit and lead compound identification and
optimization in the field of Proteases, Secretases and Receptor Tyrosine
Kinase (RTK) inhibitors. These small molecule inhibitors are to be developed
with biotech and pharma partners.
In the first quarter of 2005, the Company entered into a broad, non-
exclusive, drug discovery collaboration with The Novartis Institute for
Biomedical Research in Cambridge, MA. Under this agreement ESBATech uses its
cellular high-throughput screening technology to identify inhibitors of
receptor tyrosine kinases to provide compounds for future oncology drugs.
ESBATech is actively seeking to out-license all non-core applications of
its Immuna and HTS technologies and product development programs that are not
within its inflammatory disease area of focus. This includes ESBA212, a novel
therapeutic for passive immunization in Alzheimer’s disease.
For licensing information, please contact Alfred Slanetz, Ph.D, Slanetz
Associates, (781) 383-6603, or at aslanetz@comcast.net.

Upcoming Investor Meetings
Dominik Escher, Ph.D. will present at the 5th Annual Biotech in Europe
Investment Forum to be held on October 4-5, 2005 in Zurich as well as the
Rodman & Renshaw Techvest 7th Annual Healthcare Conference in New York City on
November 7-9, 2005. The 5th Annual Biotech in Europe Investor Forum and the
Rodman & Renshaw meetings are high profile events attended by an executive
level audience of institutional investors, venture investors, business
development executives, and scientific experts. http://www.esbatech.com

About ESBATech AG
Privately-held ESBATech AG is a drug discovery and development company
focused on advancing antibody-fragment therapeutics for inflammatory
applications. ESBATech AG has raised USD$15m to date from leading European
venture firms such as Novartis Venture Fund, BioMedinvest, Venture Incubator,
BSI, Difasa, Network Capital and Management. The Company is currently raising
additional venture financing in the US and Europe. ESBATech AG was founded in
September 1998 and currently has 30 employees.

SOURCE ESBATech AG
Web Site: http://www.esbatech.com