BioLineRx Announces Grant of European Patent Covering Use of BL-8040 with Cytarabine for Treating Acute Myeloid Leukemia

TEL AVIV, Israel, May 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ: BLRX)(TASE: BLRX)(BLRX) , a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology and immunology, announced today that the European Patent Office (EPO) has issued a Decision to Grant a patent claiming the use of BL-8040 with cytarabine, a chemotherapeutic agent, for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

This patent will be valid through March 2034, with the option of up to five years' patent term extension. Member patents were also granted in Japan and Hong Kong. Additional corresponding patent applications are pending in China (a Notice of Acceptance was received), Israel (a Notice of Acceptance was received), the United States, India, Korea, Mexico, Brazil, Canada and Australia.

"The long-term patent exclusivity we have received from the European Patent Office for BL-8040 in combination with cytarabine provides us with significant additional patent protection in AML, one of BL-8040's key indications," said Philip A. Serlin, Chief Executive Officer of BioLineRx. "In this regard, we are moving forward in full force with two ongoing trials in the AML space - a Phase 2b in consolidation AML and a Phase 1b/2 in maintenance AML, in addition to the continued follow-up on encouraging overall survival results shown in our recently completed relapsed/refractory AML study."

About BL-8040 

BL-8040 is a short peptide for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, solid tumors, and stem cell mobilization. It functions as a high-affinity antagonist for CXCR4, a chemokine receptor that is directly involved in tumor progression, angiogenesis, metastasis and cell survival. CXCR4 is over-expressed in more than 70% of human cancers and its expression often correlates with disease severity. In a number of clinical and pre-clinical studies, BL-8040 has shown robust mobilization of cancer cells and immune-cells from the bone marrow, thereby sensitizing cancer cells to chemo- and bio-based anti-cancer therapy, as well as a direct anti-cancer effect by inducing cell death (apoptosis) and mobilizing immune-cells. In addition, BL-8040 has also demonstrated robust stem-cell mobilization, including the mobilization of colony-forming cells, T, B and NK cells. BL-8040 was licensed by BioLineRx from Biokine Therapeutics and was previously developed under the name BKT-140.

About BioLineRx 

BioLineRx is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology and immunology. The Company in-licenses novel compounds, develops them through pre-clinical and/or clinical stages, and then partners with pharmaceutical companies for advanced clinical development and/or commercialization.

BioLineRx's leading therapeutic candidates are: BL-8040, a cancer therapy platform, which has successfully completed a Phase 2a study for relapsed/refractory AML, is in the midst of a Phase 2b study as an AML consolidation treatment and has initiated a Phase 3 study in stem cell mobilization for autologous transplantation; and AGI-134, an immunotherapy treatment in development for multiple solid tumors, which is expected to initiate a first-in-man study in mid-2018. In addition, BioLineRx has a strategic collaboration with Novartis for the co-development of selected Israeli-sourced novel drug candidates; a collaboration agreement with MSD (known as Merck in the US and Canada), on the basis of which the Company is carrying out a Phase 2a study in pancreatic cancer using the combination of BL-8040 and Merck's KEYTRUDA(R); and a collaboration agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, to investigate the combination of BL-8040 and Genentech's atezolizumab in several Phase 1b/2 studies for multiple solid tumor indications and AML.

For additional information on BioLineRx, please visit the Company's website at http://www.biolinerx.com, where you can review the Company's SEC filings, press releases, announcements and events. BioLineRx industry updates are also regularly updated on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BioLineRx-786986118113858/?fref=ts ], Twitter [https://twitter.com/BioLineRx_Ltd ], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/biolinerx ].

Various statements in this release concerning BioLineRx's future expectations constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include words such as "may," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," and "intends," and describe opinions about future events. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of BioLineRx to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these risks are: changes in relationships with collaborators; the impact of competitive products and technological changes; risks relating to the development of new products; and the ability to implement technological improvements. These and other factors are more fully discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of BioLineRx's most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 6, 2018. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent BioLineRx's views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. BioLineRx does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements unless required by law. 

        

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SOURCE BioLineRx Ltd.