Innovate Oncology Inc. Announces an Exclusive Agreement With Prostagenics LLC to Develop Capridine-Beta for the Treatment of Pro
April 08 2005 - 9:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Innovate Oncology Inc. Announces an Exclusive Agreement With
Prostagenics LLC to Develop Capridine-Beta for the Treatment of
Prostate Cancer NEW YORK, April 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Innovate Oncology Inc. (OTC:IOVO) (BULLETIN BOARD: IOVO) , a
company founded by Bioaccelerate Holdings Inc. (OTC:BACL) (BULLETIN
BOARD: BACL) , announced today that it has entered into an
exclusive agreement with Prostagenics LLC, acquiring the rights to
develop and commercialize Capridine-Beta for the treatment of
prostate cancer. Capridine-Beta is a novel nitroacridine derivative
which has shown specific activity against prostate cancer. It works
by stimulating expression of p16, the tumour-supressor gene and
inhibits cyclic dependent kinases CDK-2, CDK-4 and CDK-6.
Capridine-Beta also renders aggressive hormone-independent prostate
cells hormone-sensitive. Therefore, Capridine-Beta may be effective
in treating both hormone-sensitive and hormone-insensitive tumors
in combination with anti-androgen therapy. In addition, there is
proven preclinical activity against leukemia, lung, colon,
melanoma, ovarian, renal and bladder cancer. Pre-clinical
toxicology studies indicate that Capridine-Beta may be less
myelosupressive than commonly used cytotoxic agents. Currently
being prepared is an IND submission to conduct a Phase I clinical
trial for prostate cancer, with the protocol prepared in
collaboration with one of the leading cancer institutions in the
US. The Phase I trial is intended to determine the maximum
tolerated dose of Capridine-Beta given as a single agent in
patients with advanced solid tumors. Secondary objectives of the
trial will be to evaluate toxicities associated with the drug,
obtain preliminary data on therapeutic efficacy, and investigate
the pharmacokinetics of intravenous Capridine-Beta in patients with
advanced solid tumors. Dr. Nigel Rulewski, Senior Vice President of
Bioaccelerate Holdings Inc., and CEO of Innovate Oncology Inc.,
commented, "We are pleased to have obtained the rights to this
promising product for prostate cancer. This product candidate fits
in with Bioaccelerate's model of developing and commercializing
products in five therapeutic areas. Typically, Bioaccelerate will
acquire compounds or the rights to develop compounds and then
assign them to its portfolio companies to create both value for its
portfolio companies and in turn for Bioaccelerate as major
shareholder. Innovate Oncology has a portfolio of ten products in
development, 6 in clinical development and 4 in pre-clinical
development, and we expect these compounds to gain significant
value during their development over the next two years." ABOUT
PROSTATE CANCER Prostate cancer is one of the commonest tumors in
man. The prostate, a gland found only in males, is located under
the bladder and in front of the rectum. Cancer is a disease in
which cells grow out of control within the body, invading and
destroying tissues and organs. The prostate gland surrounds the
neck of the bladder and the urethra, which is the tube that drains
the bladder. In an adult man, the prostate is about the size of a
walnut. The prostate is one of three glands necessary for
reproduction. The prostate produces a sticky, milky fluid of acids
and enzymes. This fluid makes up about 15% of the total volume of
the semen and helps to sustain the sperm cells that are created in
the testicles. The prostate is surrounded by muscle, which
contracts to ejaculate this fluid. Prostate cancer begins in the
cells of the prostate gland and can spread to other parts of the
body, including the bladder, colon, rectum, and bone. An estimated
189,000 men in the U.S. are diagnosed with prostate cancer each
year. One man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during
his lifetime, but only one man in 30 will die of this disease.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men
in the U.S. (lung cancer is first). About 96% of all men diagnosed
with prostate cancer survive at least five years, and 75% survive
at least 10 years. In men whose cancer has not spread beyond the
prostate, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100%. ABOUT
INNOVATE ONCOLOGY Innovate Oncology is developing a range of
pharmaceuticals that are focused on areas of need within oncology.
The global cancer market was valued at $38.5bn in 2003 and is
forecast to grow to $53.1bn by 2009. Innovate's lead product is
currently in Phase II and prevents the development of resistance to
commonly used chemotherapeutic agents. In addition, another unique
molecule has just completed Phase I and demonstrated activity in
several different tumor types. Phase II studies are due to start
shortly. Two of Innovate's other clinical stage projects include
improvements of already approved molecules (i.e., paclitaxel and
topotecan). Apart from six clinical stage projects, Innovate also
has preclinical projects with blockbuster potential. A new method
of inhibiting the RAS oncogene has recently been acquired. The RAS
oncogene is associated with over 30% of all malignancies and has
enormous potential. Other preclinical projects include a monoclonal
antibody, a peptide designed to protect the bone marrow from the
toxic effect of chemotherapy and a project to find a small molecule
activator of a prostate suppressor gene. ABOUT BIOACCELERATE
HOLDINGS INC. Bioaccelerate Holdings Inc. is a pharmaceutical
development organization that seeks to acquire, develop and
commercialize novel pharmaceutical compounds in an efficient,
cost-effective way. Bioaccelerate uses its broad network of
academic, industry and capital market relationships to expedite
drug development and raise capital to create and fund its
subsidiary companies, which are organized by vertical portfolios in
five therapeutic areas: oncology, specialty pharmaceuticals,
central nervous system disorders (CNS), cardiovascular disease and
anti-infectives. Bioaccelerate conducts its business directly and
through its subsidiaries. The company holds majority equity
interests in ten biopharmaceutical companies, three of which are
public, and holds minority interests in four biopharmaceutical
companies, two of which are public. The company also holds a
minority equity interest in a public nanotechnology company.
Bioaccelerate strategy relies on its development network for
research, clinical development and project management to guide
early-stage compounds from the discovery process through to Phase
II/III development where incremental value can be created.
Bioaccelerate Holdings is quoted on the Over-The-Counter Bulletin
Board under the symbol "BACL.OB". For more information on
Bioaccelerate, visit the company's website at
http://www.bioaccelerate.com/. INNOVATE ONCOLOGY SAFE HARBOR
STATEMENT Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking"
statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Because these statements include
risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Specifically, factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to: risks associated with
pre-clinical and clinical developments in the biopharmaceutical
industry in general and in Innovate Oncology's compounds under
development in particular; the potential failure of Innovate
Oncology's compounds under development to prove safe and effective
for treatment of disease; uncertainties inherent in the early stage
of Innovate Oncology's compounds under development; failure to
successfully implement or complete clinical trials; failure to
receive marketing clearance from regulatory agencies for our
compounds under development; acquisitions, divestitures, mergers,
licenses or strategic initiatives that change Bioaccelerate's
business, structure or projections; the development of competing
products; uncertainties related to Innovate Oncology's dependence
on third parties and partners. Innovate Oncology disclaims any
obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Contact:
London Office Charlotte Ramelli +44 207 451 2484 New York Office
Liza Mullins (646) 723-8946 DATASOURCE: Innovate Oncology Inc.;
Bioaccelerate Holdings Inc. CONTACT: London Office - Charlotte
Ramelli, +44-207-451-2484, or New York Office - Liza Mullins,
+1-646-723-8946 Web site: http://www.bioaccelerate.com/
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