Cell Sciences And Virus Research Merge To Form AVANT Immunotherapeutics

Cell Sciences, Inc. and Virus Research Institute, Inc. have merged to create a new company with a variety of products to fight disease by harnessing the immune system. The new company, AVANT Immunotherapeutics, combines Cell Sciences' expertise in immunology with Virus Research's vaccine technologies and therapeutic delivery systems.

Dr. Una S. Ryan has been appointed president and CEO of the new company and Dr. J. Barrie Ward becomes executive chairman of the board. The company is headquartered in Needham, MA.

"AVANT's broad pipeline of products, four of which are undergoing clinical development together with our partners, address unmet market needs in the areas of transplantation, cancer, cardiovascular, infectious and autoimmune diseases," said Dr. Ward. "In addition, the Company has a strong technology base and emerging pipeline."

For more information: Una S. Ryan, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc., 119 Fourth Avenue, Needham, MA 02494-2725. Tel: 781-433-0771. Fax: 781-433-0262.