Enzo Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent for Methods of Producing Monoclonal Antibodies Against Osteoporosis Drug Target Sclerostin

NEW YORK, NY, May 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enzo Biochem, Inc.  (NYSE: ENZ) a leading biosciences and diagnostics company, today announced the recent issuance of U.S. Patent No. 10,626,170 entitled Sulfonated Sclerostin, Antibodies, Epitopes and Methods for Identification and Use Therefor.  The patent is directed to methods for producing monoclonal antibodies against specific regions of human Sclerostin, a protein that is a negative regulator of bone growth.  Inhibition of Sclerostin using monoclonal antibodies can be used to promote bone growth for the treatment of osteoporosis.

U.S. Patent No. 10,626,170 is a member of a broader U.S. and international patent family that includes issued patents and pending patent applications directed to antibodies and their use in inhibiting Sclerostin as well as small synthetic peptides and their use in inhibiting Sclerostin in the treatment of bone disorders such as osteoporosis. 

Elazar Rabbani, Ph.D., CEO of Enzo commented: “Osteoporosis is a prevalent disease affecting millions of Americans. This patent is the latest to arise from Enzo’s work demonstrating a critical regulatory role for two sulfation sites that are present in the human Sclerostin protein.  To our knowledge, this new class of antibodies could provide an alternative to other therapeutic antibodies used by competitors.  Significantly, we have also shown that synthetic peptides having sequences derived from these regions can, themselves, inhibit the interaction between Sclerostin and its receptor and, thus, could potentially also be used as therapeutics.”

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), approximately 54 million Americans have osteoporosis and low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis.  Further, according to the NOF, studies suggest that approximately one in two women and up to one in four men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

About Enzo Biochem
 
Enzo Biochem is a pioneer in molecular diagnostics, leading the convergence of clinical laboratories, life sciences and intellectual property through the development of unique diagnostic platform technologies that provide numerous advantages over previous standards. A global company, Enzo Biochem utilizes cross-functional teams to develop and deploy products, systems and services that meet the ever-changing and rapidly growing needs of health care today and into the future. Underpinning Enzo Biochem’s products and technologies is a broad and deep intellectual property portfolio, with patent coverage across a number of key enabling technologies.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this release may be considered "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include declarations regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management, including those related to cash flow, gross margins, revenues, and expenses which are dependent on a number of factors outside of the control of the Company including, inter alia, the markets for the Company’s products and services, costs of goods and services, other expenses, government regulations, litigation, and general business conditions. See Risk Factors in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results. The Company disclaims any obligations to update any forward-looking statement as a result of developments occurring after the date of this release.

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Contact:

For Enzo Biochem, Inc.

David Bench, CFO
212-583-0100
dbench@enzo.com

Investors/Media:

Melanie Solomon
The Blueshirt Group
415-217-4964
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Steve Anreder
Anreder & Company
212-532-3232
Steven.anreder@anreder.com

Released May 12, 2020