CalciMedica Acquires Exclusive Rights to Novel Immune Signaling Targets for Treating Autoimmune Diseases from The CBR Institute

LA JOLLA, Calif., May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- CalciMedica, a newly formed biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and The CBR Institute for Biomedical Research (CBRI), Inc., an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, announced today that CalciMedica has acquired exclusive rights to recent breakthrough technologies that underlie key signaling mechanisms in immune cells.  The financial terms of the license agreement were not disclosed.

The CBRI technology includes exclusive rights to Orai1, thecalcium-release activated calcium (CRAC) channel, recently discovered by Anjana Rao, Patrick Hogan, Stefan Feske, and Yousang Gwack at CBRI.  The CRAC channel is essential for T cell activity and has been recognized as a valid drug target for immunosuppression.

"CalciMedica has taken a major step forward in its development by licensing the CBRI technology, which includes promising new molecular targets implicated in a broad range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases," said Gonul Velicelebi, Ph.D, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of CalciMedica.  "CalciMedica is well-positioned to integrate this technology into its drug discovery platform and rapidly identify novel small molecule immunosuppressants with the goal of advancing safe and effective new therapeutics into clinical development."

Dr. Velicelebi added: "The CalciMedica team has extensive experience in drug discovery targeting ion channels and calcium signaling mechanisms.  Our ongoing collaboration with Anjana Rao and her colleagues at CBRI provides us with strong immunology expertise to advance the technology rapidly and bring breakthrough therapies to the clinic for treating autoimmune diseases."

"CBRI is pleased to collaborate with CalciMedica to advance this technology toward therapeutics that make a difference in the lives of many," said Ryan Dietz, head of the Office of Technology Development at CBRI.  "This partnership provides a great opportunity to move this important area of research ahead with a very talented and motivated management team." 

About CalciMedica, Inc.
CalciMedica is dedicated to the discovery and development of novel small molecule drugs for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.  A significant focus of the company's drug discovery strategy is based on the specific inhibition of calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels, a key component of the Icrac pathway in immune cells.  The Icrac calcium entry pathway is essential for the adaptive immune response, and has been validated as an important drug target in humans.  CalciMedica has acquired exclusive rights to STIM1 and Orai1 that function together as gatekeepers of the Icrac pathway and were cited in Science among signaling breakthroughs of 2005 and 2006, respectively.  CalciMedica was founded in 2006 and received its initial funding from SR One.  The company laboratory and offices are located in La Jolla, California.  For more information, please contact CalciMedica at info@calcimedica.com.

About The CBR Institute for Biomedical Research, Inc.
CBRI is a non-profit, independent research institution recognized worldwide for its discoveries that increase the body's ability to fight disease and to heal.  The breakthroughs of CBRI scientists are greatly increasing our understanding of the influence of immune defense and inflammation on medical discovery, healthcare, and disease management.  CBRI is academically affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and its investigators hold appointments in departments of Harvard Medical School.  CBRI, through its Office of Technology Development is actively advancing investigator discoveries through outside funding arrangements and licensing transactions. CBRI is a wholly independent organization in its governance, finance, and research direction.  For more information regarding CBRI, please visit its website at www.cbrinstitute.org.

About SR One
SR One is GlaxoSmithKline's independent corporate healthcare venture capital fund.  Based in West Conshohocken, PA, and London, U.K., SR One invests globally in emerging biotechnology companies that are engaged in drug discovery, development and delivery with the potential to yield dramatic patient benefits.  Since its founding in 1985, SR One has placed over

$500 million in more than 150 investments.  For more information on SR One, its staff and portfolio companies, please visit www.srone.com.

SOURCE  CalciMedica, Inc.

CONTACT: 
Gonul Velicelebi of CalciMedica, Inc., +1-858-952-5501
info@calcimedica.com; or Ryan Dietz of CBR Institute
+1-617-278-3463, dietz@cbrinstitute.com