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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - Virionyx Corporation changes name to Innate Therapeutics as the company repositions to accelerate the clinical development of its novel immunomodulator - read announcement.


Innate Therapeutics Limited is a public unlisted biotech company based in Auckland, NZ. The company is focused on the clinical development of a new generation of immunomodulator for the treatment of certain cancers and autoimmune diseases, and as a novel cellular and humoral adjuvant.

The company was founded in 2000, as Virionyx Corporation, to acquire and trial a passive immunotherapeutic technology to treat HIV/AIDS. In 2007 the company accelerated the preclinical development of a microparticle immunomodulator platform following surprising results in biodefense related proof-of-principle studies in the U.S..

In late 2008 the company closed out its passive immunotherapeutic programs and repositioned to focus on the human trialing and applications of MIS416, the company’s multi-modal immune response modifying microparticle. Multiple in vivo studies together with exceptionally good results in acute and chronic toxicology studies have determined MIS416 to be a strong candidate for human clinical studies. Licensed GMP manufactured clinical trial material is expected to enter Phase 1 studies in healthy subjects in New Zealand in Q2 2009.

Immunomodulators. Unlike the mode of action of many pharmaceutical agents, immunomodulators do not treat disease by attempting to blocking or subvert disease related processes. Instead, immunomodulators’ treat or prevent disease by mobilizing the forces of the body's own potent defense system – the immune system.

In choosing the name “Innate” Therapeutics, the company pays homage to both the power and the purpose of the innate wing of the immune system and also the mode of action of the company’s unique immune response modifier platform which specifically targets keys cells of the innate immune system.