Laureate Pharma, Inc. has entered into a biopharmaceutical manufacturing agreement with Iconic Therapeutics, Inc. for cGMP manufacture of hI-con1, a "bi-functional immunoprotein." Laureate's services include cGMP protein production, purification and aseptic filling of hI-con1 for Iconic Therapeutics. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"Iconic Therapeutics has a unique bi-functional immunoprotein for the treatment of wet adult macular degeneration and cancer and we are very pleased to be working with them on this exciting product," said Robert J. Broeze, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Laureate Pharma. "We look forward to a productive and successful relationship with Iconic Therapeutics."

The hI-con1 protein contains two functional domains connected by a "hinge," and each portion has a specific role to play in the protein's activity. One domain of the hI- con1 is a "homing sequence" that targets pathological cells whereas the other portion, the "effector sequence," is the part of an antibody that signals the immune system to destroy the targeted cells. In addition to potential therapeutic utility in wet adult macular degeneration and many solid cancers, hI-con1 has the prospect of being useful in treating other diseases as well.