Invion : selects Guilin Xingda to manufacture light-therapy medical equipment

Highlights

• Invion and China's Guilin Xingda Photoelectric Medical Device Co. Ltd sign supply deal for medical equipment for use in photodynamic cancer therapies
• Invion currently developing IVX-PO2 for the treatment of a range of cancers
• Xingda will develop and supply medical light sources for Invion's programs in skin, ovarian, prostate and lung cancer

Melbourne, Australia, 29 January 2019: Australian biotech Invion Limited (ASX: IVX) ('Invion' or 'the Company') has engaged prominent Chinese specialist medical equipmentmaker Guilin Xingda Photoelectric Medical Device Co. Ltd to manufacture and supply to Invion medical equipment for Invion's drug-and-light-therapy cancer treatments under development. Under the agreement, Guilin Xingda will manufacture and deliver medical light source equipment ordered by Invion, including LED and laser devices.

The light sources are for use initially in pre-clinical and clinical studies of IVX-P02, a photodynamic therapy under development by Invion for a range of cancers, including skin, ovarian, prostate and lung cancer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses non-toxic photosensitisers (molecules that produce a chemical change in another molecule in a photochemical process) and visible light in combination with oxygen to produce a reaction that kills cancer cells, shuts down tumours and stimulates the immune system.

Preclinical studies have shown that when administered IVX-PO2 is entirely inactive and benign, but when activated by a targeted light source, IVX-PO2 becomes cytotoxic to cancer cells. Guilin Xingda is considered one of China's foremost suppliers of medical light sources, with manufacturing facilities located in the city of Guilin in China's Guangxi region.

'We are very pleased to be working with Xingda for the manufacture and supply of light and laser source devices to be used in Invion's development of PDT treatments for a range of cancers.' 'Multiple probes will be engineered to optimise the delivery of highly-specific light sources to enable the activation of IVX-P02 in different cancer targets, including skin, ovarian, lung and prostate cancers. 'These devices will then be tested for use in Invion's clinical trials with the ultimate aim of regulatory device approval.' Invion Chief Executive Dr Greg Collier said.

About Invion

Invion is a clinical-stage life-sciences company that holds the Australia and New Zealand license to the Photosoft^TM technology for the treatment of all cancers. Research and clinical trials are funded by the technology licensor, The Cho Group, which will provide non-dilutive funding to the Company. Invion is listed on ASX (ASX: IVX).

About Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

Invion is developing Photosoft^TM technology as an improved next generation Photodynamic Therapy. PDT uses non-toxic photosensitisers and visible light in combination with oxygen to produce cytotoxic-reactive oxygen that kills malignant cells, shuts down tumours and stimulates the immune system. In contrast to surgery, or radiotherapy and chemotherapy which are mostly immunosuppressive, PDT causes acute inflammation, expression of heat-shock proteins, and invasion and infiltration of a tumour by leukocytes.