PharmaGap Sees Positive Results from In Vivo Ovarian Cancer Models at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
April 18 2011 - 8:00AM
Marketwired
PharmaGap Inc. (TSX VENTURE: GAP)(OTCBB: PHRGF) ("PharmaGap" or
"the Company") today announced initial results from preclinical
testing at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute ("OHRI"). Initial
results from this study are positive and provide evidence that a
peptide formulation of PharmaGap's lead cancer drug GAP-107B8
administered via the intraperitoneal route can reduce tumour burden
(19%) and significantly suppress ascites formation (73%) relative
to controls. The test was undertaken at OHRI in collaboration with
Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden.
Dr. Vanderhyden, upon initial review of the data commented "The
reduction in ascites volume is very interesting in its own right,
because this is a notable cause of morbidity in women with ovarian
cancer. There is currently no drug therapy that is effective
against ovarian cancer-associated ascites accumulation.
Paracentesis, the removal of abdominal ascites, is commonly used to
alleviate symptoms and prolong survival of women with ovarian
cancer. The presence of ascites in ovarian cancer has been reported
to be an indicator of poor prognosis for survival and correlates
with a significantly decreased 5-year survival rate (5% with
ascites vs. 45% without ascites) among women with stage III or IV
epithelial ovarian carcinoma."
The efficacy screening study was conducted over 2 weeks with
twice daily dosing. With respect to this schedule the maximum
tolerated dose as predetermined from a preliminary in-vivo study
for each formulation (20 and 40 mg/Kg respectively) was
administered.
In this study two formulations of GAP-107B8 peptides were tested
in an established intraperitoneal xenograft model in
immune-deficient mice and evaluated for tumour burden and
accumulation of malignant ascites (excess fluid containing cancer
cells in the abdominal cavity). The cell line selected for testing
(OCC-1 human ovarian cancer) is of a phenotype characterized by the
production of peritoneal ascites with growth of multiple small
solid tumours.
Dr. Ken Sokoll, PharmaGap's Vice President of Clinical
Development and Chief Operating officer stated "We are continuing
the analysis of this data along with Dr. Vanderhyden's group and
will provide additional details as they become apparent. This work
has provided key information on preferred GAP-107B8 peptide
formulations, relevant to our ongoing clinical development and
peptide-based formulation program. Future efficacy studies to be
conducted in the ovarian cancer model will include more broad-based
screenings with liposomal formulations in order to determine if
these initial positive findings can be improved further and
reproduced in other ascites-producing cell lines. It is noteworthy
that ascites formation is not unique to ovarian cancer, and a high
incidence has been reported in other cancer types, including
endometrial, breast, colon, stomach and pancreatic cancers."
About OHRI and Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden
The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) is the research
arm of The Ottawa Hospital and is an affiliated institute of the
University of Ottawa, closely associated with the University's
Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences. The OHRI includes more
than 1,500 scientists, clinical investigators, graduate students,
postdoctoral fellows and staff conducting research to improve the
understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human
disease. www.ohri.ca
Dr. Vanderhyden is a Senior Scientist, Cancer Therapeutics at
the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and a Professor in the
Departments of Cellular & Molecular Medicine and Obstetrics
& Gynecology at the University of Ottawa. She holds the Corinne
Boyer Chair in Ovarian Cancer Research. She has published over 60
peer-reviewed journal papers primarily in the area of ovarian
cancer and collaborates extensively with many pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies focused on the development of therapies for
ovarian cancer.
About PharmaGap Inc.
PharmaGap Inc. (TSX VENTURE: GAP), based in Ottawa, ON, is a
biotechnology company with a core focus on developing novel peptide
therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. PharmaGap's GAP-107B8 is
a novel peptide drug that has been shown to be highly cytotoxic to
numerous cancer types, including chemo-resistant cancers, in vitro.
For more information on PharmaGap please visit the Company's
website at www.pharmagap.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains certain statements that constitute
forward-looking statements as they relate to the Company and its
management. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but
represent management's current expectations of future events, and
can be identified by words such as "believe", "expects", "will",
"intends", "plans", "projects", "anticipates", "estimates",
"continues", and similar expressions. Although management believes
that expectations represented in such forward-looking statements
are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to
be correct.
By their nature, forward-looking statements include assumptions
and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual future results, conditions, actions or events to
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. If
and when forward-looking statements are set out in this news
release, PharmaGap will also set out the material risk factors or
assumptions used to develop the forward-looking statements. Except
as expressly required by applicable securities laws, the Company
assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements. The future outcomes that relate to forward-looking
statements may be influenced by many factors, including, but not
limited to: results of ongoing product testing and development;
regulatory approvals required to complete development of products;
ability to manufacture product at quality and scale for human use
on an economically sound basis; patient reimbursement by private
and public health insurance programs; unintended side effects of
products; competitive products; product liability; intellectual
property; reliance on key personnel; risks of future legal
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financing; distribution of securities; effect of market interest
rates on price of securities, and potential dilution.
Note: Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release. No Securities Commission or other
regulatory authority having jurisdiction over PharmaGap has
approved or disapproved of the information contained herein. This
release contains forward looking statements that may not occur or
may change materially.
Contacts: PharmaGap Inc. Dr. Kenneth Sokoll Vice President
Clinical Development and COO 613-990-8065
ken.sokoll@pharmagap.com
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