Research Update
June 02 2008 - 2:05AM
Marketwired
Cheshire, UK Annual Meeting London, UK; Brentwood, TN, US; 2
June 2008 - Protherics PLC ("Protherics" or the "Company"), the
international biopharmaceutical company focused on critical care
and cancer, today announces that preliminary results of a phase 1
clinical study of ProlarixTM will be presented at the American
Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, USA,
at 12 midday local time on Monday 2 June. The clinical study was
conducted by Cancer Research UK and Dr. Debashis Sarker of the
Royal Marsden Hospital, London will be presenting. ProlarixTM is a
novel targeted prodrug therapy being developed for the treatment of
hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer) with the potential
to be used in other selected tumours. The phase 1 dose escalation
trial was conducted at two sites in the UK and its main aim was to
assess safety and tolerability in order to determine the dose for
phase 2. Protherics is planning to start a phase 2 proof of concept
study in mid 2008 to investigate the efficacy of ProlarixTM in
primary liver cancer. The ASCO Annual Meeting attracts more than
30,000 attendees and is considered the premier educational and
scientific event in the oncology community. Andrew Heath, Chief
Executive of Protherics commented:"We are delighted that Cancer
Research UK is presenting this phase 1 data at the prestigious ASCO
Annual Meeting. This helps to highlight our growing franchise in
cancer and showcase one of our most promising programmes". / Ends /
For further information please contact: Protherics Nick Staples,
Director of Corporate Affairs +44 (0) 7919 480510 Saul Komisar,
President Protherics Inc +1 615 327 1027 Financial Dynamics - press
enquiries London: Ben Atwell, Lara Mott +44 (0) 20 7831 3113 New
York: John Capodanno +1 212 850 5600 Or visit www.protherics.com
Notes for Editors: About ProlarixTM Prolarix is a targeted
chemotherapy being developed for the treatment of primary liver
cancer (hepatocellular carcinomas, HCC) and other select tumours.
Prolarix is a combination therapy of two low molecular weight
compounds, a prodrug* (called tretazicar; previously CB1954) and an
enzyme co-substrate* (called caricotamide; previously EP-0152R).
The prodrug tretazicar can be activated, by an endogenous enzyme
called NQO2, to a highly reactive, short-lived cytotoxic agent
which causes a high degree of DNA cross-linking. The NQO2 enzyme is
latent and therefore inactive in body tissue, but Protherics'
scientists have discovered that the enzyme is active in the
presence of a co-substrate called caricotamide. The NQO2 enzyme is
absent or in low levels in many normal body tissues, including bone
marrow, but its activity is increased in certain tumour types
(particularly hepatocellular carcinomas). The coadministration of
the prodrug tretazicar, and the cosubstrate, caricotamide, is
therefore expected to result in the enhanced activation of the
prodrug in the target tumour cells, resulting in their death while
minimising harm to healthy, non-cancerous cells. Glossary Prodrug*
- A compound that is converted within the body into its active form
and that has no therapeutic effects of its own. A prodrug is useful
when the active drug may be too toxic to administer systemically,
the active drug is absorbed poorly by the digestive tract, or the
body breaks down the active drug before it reaches its target.
Co-substrate* - A molecule that interacts with an enzyme and is
required for its activity. Cytotoxic* - A chemical which has a
direct toxic effect to cells, causing their death. Tretazicar* is
5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide (CB 1954), an antitumour
prodrug Caricotamide* is
1-carbamoylmethyl-3-carbamoyl-1,4-dihydropyridine (EP-0152R), the
most stable of a series of co-substrates discovered by Protherics
About Protherics Protherics (LSE: PTI, NASDAQ: PTIL) is a leading
international biopharmaceutical company focused on specialised
products for critical care and cancer. Protherics has developed and
manufactures two biologics for critical care which are FDA approved
and marketed in the US: CroFabTM, a pit viper antivenom and
DigiFabTM, a digoxin antidote. The Company's strategy is to use the
revenues generated from its marketed and out-licensed products to
help fund the advancement of its broad, late stage pipeline.
Protherics has two major development opportunities in its
portfolio. CytoFabTM is being developed by AstraZeneca, for the
treatment of severe sepsis, following a major licensing deal
announced in December 2005. AstraZeneca is conducting an additional
phase 2 programme following changes to the commercial manufacturing
process. A new formulation of Angiotensin Therapeutic Vaccine, for
the treatment of hypertension, is scheduled to enter a phase 2a
study in mid 2008. This formulation contains a novel CoVaccine HTTM
adjuvant which has improved the immune response with a range of
vaccines in many species. Protherics also has four novel cancer
products being developed in a range of indications for which it
intends to undertake the sales and marketing in the US and /or the
EU. Protherics has a strong cash position, with cash balances at 30
September 2007 of GBP46.9 million, having completed a GBP38 million
equi ty fundraising in January 2007 and received a GBP10 million
milestone payment from AstraZeneca in April 2007. With headquarters
in London, the Company has approximately 290 employees across its
operations in the UK, US and Australia. For further information
visit: www.protherics.com About Cancer Research UK Cancer Research
UK is Europe's leading cancer charity, dedicated to research into
the causes, prevention and treatment of cancer. They support the
work of over 3,000 scientists, doctors and nurses in over 80
academic centres across the UK, with an annual scientific spend of
more than GBP213 million. Cancer Research UK is the European leader
in the development of novel anti-cancer treatments; from their
discovery at the laboratory bench to early clinical trials in
cancer patients. For further information please visit:
www.cancerresearchuk.org/ Disclaimer This document contains
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties,
including with respect to Protherics' product pipeline and
anticipated development and clinical trials for product candidates.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are reasonable at this time, we can give
no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Given
these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on such forward-looking statements. Actual results could
differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking
statements due to many important factors, including the factors
discussed in Protherics' Annual Report on Form 20-F and other
reports filed from time to time with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. We do not undertake to update any oral or
written forward-looking statements that may be made by or on behalf
of Protherics. This information is provided by RNS The company news
service from the London Stock Exchange END
Contacts: RNS Customer Services 0044-207797-4400 Email Contact
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