ProMetic's PBI-4050 Delivers New Positive Preclinical Results in Liver Fibrosis and Liver Cancer
April 10 2014 - 7:00AM
Marketwired
ProMetic's PBI-4050 Delivers New Positive Preclinical Results in
Liver Fibrosis and Liver Cancer
LAVAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Apr 10, 2014) - ProMetic Life
Sciences Inc. (TSX:PLI)(OTCQX:PFSCF), ("ProMetic" or the
"Corporation") presented new pre-clinical data at the 2014 annual
meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver
("EASL") currently being held in London, UK. The new data supports
the claim that PBI-4050's anti-fibrotic activity could also address
various liver conditions such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
("NASH"), a condition affecting 2% to 5% of Americans, as well as
liver cancer.
PBI-4050's favorable effect in reducing the progression of
fibrosis in the liver was demonstrated in a gold standard animal
model where liver fibrosis is induced by chronic administration of
carbon tetrachloride ("CCL4"), a chemical which at high chronic
doses, causes irreversible damages to the liver and kidneys.
Animals treated with PBI-4050 displayed a significant reduction of
liver lesions as evidenced by histology and relevant biomarkers
results. Following prolonged exposure to CCL4, a significant number
of the non-treated animals also developed hepatocellular carcinoma
unlike those treated with PBI-4050.
"These results clearly indicate that PBI-4050's anti-fibrotic
activity is at the core of the fibrosis regulation pathway in the
liver", stated Dr. Lyne Gagnon, Head of Biology & Immunology at
ProMetic.
Dr. John Moran, Chief Medical Officer at ProMetic stated "The
progression from fibrosis to cirrhosis to hepatocellular carcinoma
is well defined in humans. The positive effects observed with
PBI-4050 in multiple challenging animal models bodes well for its
potential use to treat various medical conditions involving and or
leading to fibrosis."
The presentation at the EASL annual conference is available on
the ProMetic website at:
http://www.prometic.com/en/therapeutics/conferences.php
More on NASH:
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH is a common, often
"silent" liver disease. It resembles alcoholic liver disease, but
occurs in people who drink little or no alcohol. The major feature
in NASH is fat in the liver, along with inflammation and damage.
Most people with NASH feel well and are not aware that they have a
liver problem. Nevertheless, NASH can be severe and can lead to
cirrhosis, in which the liver is permanently damaged and scarred
and no longer able to work properly. NASH affects 2 to 5 percent of
Americans.
More on Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hepatic fibrosis is an outcome of many chronic liver diseases,
including hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, alcoholic liver
disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Liver fibrosis is
characterized by the excess accumulation and alteration of
extracellular matrix molecules, including collagen, in the tissue.
Liver fibrosis can progress to liver cirrhosis, liver failure,
portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver
transplantation is the only treatment available for patients with
advanced stage of fibrosis.
About ProMetic Life Sciences Inc.
ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (www.prometic.com) is a long
established biopharmaceutical company with globally recognized
expertise in bioseparations, plasma-derived therapeutics and
small-molecule drug development. ProMetic offers its state of the
art technologies for large-scale purification of biologics, drug
development, proteomics and the elimination of pathogens to a
growing base of industry leaders and uses its own affinity
technology that provides for highly efficient extraction and
purification of therapeutic proteins from human plasma in order to
develop best-in-class therapeutics and orphan drugs. ProMetic is
also active in developing its own novel small-molecule therapeutic
products targeting unmet medical needs in the field of fibrosis,
cancer and autoimmune diseases/inflammation. Headquartered in Laval
(Canada), ProMetic has R&D facilities in the UK, the U.S. and
Canada, manufacturing facilities in the UK and business development
activities in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements about
ProMetic's objectives, strategies and businesses that involve risks
and uncertainties. These statements are "forward-looking" because
they are based on our current expectations about the markets we
operate in and on various estimates and assumptions. Actual events
or results may differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks affect our
business, or if our estimates or assumptions turn out to be
inaccurate. Such risks and assumptions include, but are not limited
to, ProMetic's ability to develop, manufacture, and successfully
commercialize value-added pharmaceutical products, the availability
of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the successful
and timely completion of clinical studies, the ability of ProMetic
to take advantage of business opportunities in the pharmaceutical
industry, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and
general changes in economic conditions. You will find a more
detailed assessment of the risks that could cause actual events or
results to materially differ from our current expectations in
ProMetic's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31,
2013, under the heading "Risk and Uncertainties related to
ProMetic's business". As a result, we cannot guarantee that any
forward-looking statement will materialize. We assume no obligation
to update any forward-looking statement even if new information
becomes available, as a result of future events or for any other
reason, unless required by applicable securities laws and
regulations. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless indicated
otherwise.
Pierre LaurinPresident and CEOProMetic Life Sciences
Inc.p.laurin@prometic.com+1.450.781.0115Frederic DumaisDirector,
Communications andInvestor RelationsProMetic Life Sciences
Inc.f.dumais@prometic.com+1.450.781.0115