History of Angiogen, LLC

Angiogen was founded in 1999 from angiogenesis inhibition research originated by its founder, Gerald A. Soff, M.D., which built upon Dr. Judah Folkman’s hypothesis, originated in 1971, that tumor growth is dependent upon angiogenesis. Dr. Folkman’s theory, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was initially regarded as heresy by leading physicians and scientists. Since that time, over 2,500 scientific papers have been published supporting this theory.

Soff and colleagues at Northwestern University Medical Center determined that human Angiostatin4.5, a naturally occurring anti-cancer protein in the human body inhibits angiogenesis. The body can be stimulated to produce Angiostatin4.5 in a two-step reaction involving a blood/plasma protein; plasminogen. Angiogen was the first to recognize the potential of combining two classes of FDA approved drugs (a plasminogen activator, which is typically used for myocardial infarction and a free sulfhydryl donor which is typically used to treat high blood pressure) into one anti-angiogenesis cancer-fighting treatment. Angiogen refers to this their first drug as the Angiostatic Cocktail.

The Angiostatic Cocktail is unique, proprietary, and broadly patented (the primary patent #6576609 was filed in 1997 and issued in 2003) in the US, EU, and Japan with protection in other countries being pursued. The patent covers the methods and composition for generating Angiostatin (the angiogenesis inhibitory protein) using a plasminogen activator alone or in combination with a free sulfhydryl donor. Angiogen is further protected from any off label use of plasminogen activators for cancer treatment as Physicians would incur significant liability in repackaging the drug into appropriate sized doses and would not receive reimbursement from third party payors for chronic use.

Since the Company’s inception, there have been three phases of clinical development including "compassionate use" cases where individual doctors administered Dr. Soff’s research protocol. Angiogen is currently conducting a Phase I clinical trial at Northwestern University Medical Center.