NaPro Awarded Phase I SBIR Grant for Research on Muscular Dystrophy
December 04 2003 - 8:52AM
PR Newswire (US)
NaPro Awarded Phase I SBIR Grant for Research on Muscular Dystrophy
BOULDER, Colo., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NaPro
BioTherapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has received a Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award from the National
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National
Institutes of Health (NINDS/NIH) to use its gene editing technology
to address inherited mutations in animal models of Duchenne
muscular dystrophy (DMD). NaPro will be targeting the existing
mutant DMD gene with specifically designed proprietary
oligonucleotides, which pair with, and direct, a muscle cell's
natural repair mechanism to correct the inherited chromosomal
defect. Initial studies will focus on dystrophinopathies in muscle
tissue of murine and canine models of DMD. Frank Tagliaferri, PhD,
Director of Preclinical Development at NaPro and Principal
Investigator for this work commented, "NIH funding of NaPro in this
area of research is enormously appreciated and represents an added
source of recognition for our gene editing technology. This grant
allows us to expand the therapeutic application of our technology
to include not only hematologic and neurologic disorders, which we
are currently working on, but also to include inherited mutations
in muscle disorders as well." About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is caused by a mutation on the
X-chromosome whereby the protein dystrophin cannot be produced.
This protein is necessary for normal muscle function to occur. The
absence of dystrophin leads to progressive muscle wasting and
weakness in the arms, legs, and trunk. The heart and respiratory
muscles may also be affected. This is a hereditary disease
affecting almost exclusively males and is usually fatal by 20-24
years of age. Approximately 1 in 3,300 males suffers from this
disease in the United States. About NaPro BioTherapeutics NaPro
BioTherapeutics, Inc. is a life science company focused on the
development of therapies for the targeted treatment of cancer and
hereditary disease. For more information about NaPro and its
technologies, visit NaPro's web site at http://www.naprobio.com/.
Forward Looking Statements The statements in this news release that
are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that
represent management's beliefs and assumptions as of the date of
this news release, based on currently available information.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words
such as "believes," "intends," "estimates," "may," "will,"
"should," "anticipated," "expected" or comparable terminology or by
discussions of strategy. Although the Company believes that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, it cannot assure that these expectations will prove to
be correct. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties
including: risks associated with development of the genomics, gene
editing and targeted businesses, including competition from
companies in similar businesses, limitations on the ability to
market products because of the intellectual property rights of
third parties, the ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patents;
the risk that the transaction announced with Faulding
Pharmaceutical Co. may not close because it is not approved by
stockholders or otherwise or may be materially delayed; the costs
of continuing development of any or all of the Company's
development programs; the timing of when those programs will enter
the clinic; the successful commercialization of the Company's
platform technologies; the fact that the Company's business will
require substantial additional investment that the Company has not
secured; and the risk that the cash proceeds from the Faulding
transaction, if realized, will not be sufficient to fund the
Company's strategic plans for the initial development new
proprietary therapeutic candidates; and all of those factors
identified under the captions "Risk Factors," "Special Note
Regarding Forward Looking Statements" or "Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward Looking Statements" in the Company's documents filed from
time to time with the SEC, including the Company's registration
statement on Form S-3, as amended, dated August 8, 2003, its Annual
Report on Forms 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ending December 31,
2002 filed with the SEC on March 27, April 30, August 8 and October
24, 2003, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended October 1, 2003 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on November 14, 2003. Should one or more of these risks
materialize (or the consequences of such a development worsen), or
should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results
could differ materially from those forecasted or expected. The
Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or
revise such statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Additional Information In connection
with the proposed sale of assets to Mayne Pharma (USA) Inc. (f/k/a
Faulding Pharmaceutical Co.), NaPro has filed a definitive proxy
statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Investors and security holders are urged to read the definitive
proxy statement as it contains important information about NaPro,
the proposed transaction and related matters. Investors and
security holders have access to free copies of the definitive proxy
statement and other documents filed with the SEC by NaPro through
the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov/. The definitive proxy
statement and related materials may also be obtained for free from
NaPro by calling the company contact listed below. NaPro and its
directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants
in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed
transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the
rules of the SEC, be considered to be participants in the
solicitation of NaPro's stockholders in connection with the
proposed transaction is set forth in NaPro's proxy statement for
its 2003 annual meeting of stockholders, dated May 23, 2003 and
filed with the SEC on May 27, 2003. Additional information is set
forth in the definitive proxy statement on file with the SEC
related to the proposed sale of assets. For further information,
please contact L. Robert Cohen, Vice President, Investor Relations
of NaPro BioTherapeutics, Inc., +1-212-218-8715. DATASOURCE: NaPro
BioTherapeutics, Inc. CONTACT: L. Robert Cohen, Vice President,
Investor Relations of NaPro BioTherapeutics, Inc., +1-212-218-8715;
or investors, Lilian Stern of Stern Investor Relations,
+1-212-362-1200; or media, Peter Steinerman, +1-516-374-3031, for
NaPro BioTherapeutics, Inc. Web site: http://www.naprobio.com/
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