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December 18, 2007
  WILEX updates the status of the RENCAREX® Phase III-ARISER Study following the positive interim analysis for futility
 

Over 760 patients enrolled in the study so far; drop out rate of approximately 3.9 % remains low
Patient recruitment in Europe should be successfully completed within the next 6 weeks
Next milestone is the interim analysis for efficacy after 343 relapses which is anticipated early 2009

Munich, 18 December 2007. The Munich-based biopharmaceutical company WILEX AG (ISIN DE0006614720 / Frankfurt Stock Exchange / Prime Standard) announces updated details of the Phase III ARISER study with its drug candidate RENCAREX® after the positive interim analysis for futility. RENCAREX® is being developed for the adjuvant therapy of clear cell renal cell cancer, an indication for which there is currently no drug approved. So far over 760 of the 856 patients planned have been enrolled. The drop out rate at 3.9 % remains low. This again suggests that the treatment regimen of weekly injections is acceptable and well tolerated. The recruitment in Europe should be completed within the next six weeks. Recruitment in North America will continue for a few months to maintain the proportion of US patients planned.

To date a lower number of patients have relapsed than projected. After the positive interim analysis for futility a new estimate was calculated as to when the 343 relapses required for the next milestone would be reached. Currently, this is expected early in 2009. The study protocol specifies an interim analysis for efficacy of the antibody at this point which would be the basis for filing for approval in the European Union. This interim analysis will evaluate whether RENCAREX® shows a significant superiority over placebo in disease-free survival time. WILEX will continue to carefully monitor the relapse rate.

Dr. Paul Bevan, Head of Research and Development and member of the executive management board of WILEX, commented: “We are very pleased with the progress of the Phase III RENCAREX® trial with patient recruitment in Europa expected to be completed soon. The endpoints of the study are dependent on patients’ relapse which we will continue to monitor carefully“.


About the ARISER study
The international, multicentre, randomised trial, called ARISER (Adjuvant Rencarex Immunotherapy trial to Study Efficacy in non-metastasized Renal cell carcinoma), examines the efficacy of the antibody RENCAREX® in comparison to placebo for the treatment of clear cell renal cell cancer patients after complete or partial surgical removal of the affected kidney in patients with no detectable metastases. This cancer belongs to one of the particularly aggressive indications. RENCAREX® aims to inhibit these malignant kidney tumours from further growth and recurrence and to help to destroy cancer cells and thereby prolong the disease-free survival of patients. The study is designed to detect a 35% improvement of disease-free survival time in patients treated with RENCAREX® compared to patients treated with placebo with a statistical significance of 1%.

About WILEX
WILEX is a biopharmaceutical Company based in Munich founded in 1997 by a team of physicians and oncologists from the Technical University of Munich. WILEX is focused on the development of new cancer therapies based on antibodies and small molecules. The therapeutic approach of WILEX targets the prevention of growth, spread and the metastasis of malignant tumours and the destruction of malignant tumours in the body. The late stage multi-product portfolio includes both drug and medicinal product candidates as well as research candidates. Currently the following compounds are in clinical development: WX-G250 (development name: RENCAREX®), WX-671, WX-UK1 and CA9-SCAN. The company’s strategy is to develop WILEX into a commercially successful biopharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of new drugs and diagnostic products for the treatment of cancer. WILEX AG has been listed in the Official Market Segment (Amtlicher Markt) / Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange

ISIN DE0006614720 / WKN 661472 / Symbol WL6

Contact
Juliane Giese
Manager Public Relations
WILEX AG
Grillparzerstr. 10
81675 Munich
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)89-41 31 38-29
Fax: +49 (0)89-41 31 38-99
email: investors@wilex.com
Website: http://www.wilex.com


This communication contains certain forward-looking statements, relating to the Company's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "estimates", "believes", "expects", "may", "will" "should" "future", "potential" or similar expressions or by general discussion of strategy, plans or intentions of the Company. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results of operations, financial condition, performance, or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors and partners are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.
Given these uncertainties, prospective investors and partners are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.


   


 
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