Nuvilex Obtains Exclusive Worldwide License to Develop Disease Treatments Combining Cell-in-a-Box and Cannabinoid-Based Medic...
December 01 2014 - 9:30AM
InvestorsHub NewsWire
SILVER SPRING, MD
- December 01, 2014 - InvestorsHub NewsWire - Nuvilex,
Inc. (OTCQB:
NVLX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cell
therapy solutions for the treatment of diseases, announced today
that it has obtained an exclusive worldwide license from
Austrianova Singapore Pte Ltd to use the unique and proprietary
Cell-in-a-Box® cellulose-based live cell encapsulation
technology in combination with compounds, known as cannabinoids,
obtained from constituents of Cannabis for the development
of disease treatments. Nuvilex’s initial efforts will be directed
toward developing treatments for deadly and difficult-to-treat
forms of cancer.
Nuvilex’s CEO and President, Kenneth L. Waggoner, commented, “While
our efforts in the medical Cannabis arena have been
ongoing for some time now, this exciting worldwide Licensing
Agreement enabling the use of Cell-in-a-Box® with
cannabinoid prodrugs will greatly enhance our effort to become a
major player in the medicinal cannabinoid space. This is truly a
collaborative agreement which is designed to capitalize on the
ever-increasing body of evidence indicating constituents from the
Cannabis plant indeed have a place in the treatment of
serious and even deadly forms of cancer.”
The combination of the Cell-in-a-Box® live cell
encapsulation technology and prodrugs (which require conversion to
their cancer-killing forms) as treatments for serious cancers has
already been validated in human clinical trials in patients with
advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer and in a veterinary
preclinical trial in dogs with spontaneously-occurring mammary
cancer (a model for breast cancer in humans). In both cases, the
cells encapsulated were designed to overexpress an enzyme known as
CYP2B1. This is an isoform of the cytochrome P450 system, normally
found in the liver. For the pancreatic cancer clinical trials, the
prodrug used was ifosfamide; its “sister” drug cyclophosphamide was
used in the canine mammary cancer preclinical trial. Both
ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide are converted to their
cancer-killing forms by CYP2B1 and have shown remarkable
results.
Dr. Brian Salmons, CEO and President of Austrianova and a member of
the Scientific Advisory Board of Medical Marijuana Sciences, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuvilex, said of the Licensing
Agreement, “Over the course of the last year, we have worked very
closely with Nuvilex to secure the exclusive worldwide rights to
use our Cell-in-a-Box® technology for the development of
cannabinoid-based disease treatments. We’re excited about the
opportunity to collaborate with them to further the science in this
exciting medical field where the possibility exists of treating
cancers and other diseases without the harmful side effects
normally associated with their treatment.”
Prof. Walter H. Günzburg, Chairman and CTO of Austrianova, said “It
is well documented in scientific and medical journals that
cannabinoid-based drugs have a therapeutic benefit in cancer but
the ability to administer these drugs at a therapeutic level is
challenging. The use of encapsulated cells to convert prodrugs as
pioneered by Austrianova and Nuvilex is a viable alternative. We
are delighted to have signed the Licensing Agreement as part of the
ongoing efforts towards this aim.”
For the work to be done in the cancer area under the terms of the
Licensing Agreement, the Cell-in-a-Box® encapsulation
process will be basically the same as that used in Nuvilex’s cancer
treatments using ifosfamide; however, a different type of cell will
be encapsulated for cannabinoid-based cancer treatments. These
cells will be capable of converting cannabinoid prodrugs to their
cancer-killing forms. By using the Cell-in-a-Box®
technology, it should be possible to optimize the anticancer effect
of the cannabinoid prodrugs while minimizing deleterious side
effects that are associated with most chemotherapy.
About Nuvilex
Nuvilex (OTCQB:
NVLX) is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on
developing and preparing to commercialize treatments for cancer and
diabetes based upon a proprietary cellulose-based live cell
encapsulation technology known as Cell-in-a-Box®. This
unique and patented technology will be used as a platform upon
which treatments for several types of cancer, including advanced,
inoperable pancreatic cancer, and diabetes are being built.
Nuvilex's treatment for pancreatic cancer involves the well-known
anticancer prodrug ifosfamide, together with encapsulated live
cells, which convert ifosfamide into its active or "cancer-killing"
form. Nuvilex is also working towards improving the quality of life
for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and on treatments for
other types of solid cancerous tumors. In addition, Nuvilex is
developing treatments for cancer based upon chemical constituents
of marijuana known as cannabinoids. Nuvilex is examining ways to
exploit the benefits of Cell-in-a-Box® technology in
optimizing the anticancer effectiveness of cannabinoids, while
minimizing or outright eliminating the debilitating side effects
usually associated with cancer treatments. This provides Nuvilex a
unique opportunity to develop “green” approaches to fighting
cancers, such as those of the pancreas, brain and breast, which
affect hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide every
year.
Safe
Harbor
This press release may
contain forward-looking statements regarding Nuvilex and its future
events and results that involve inherent risks and uncertainties.
The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend,"
"plan" and similar expressions, as they relate to Nuvilex or its
management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Important factors, many of which are beyond the control of Nuvilex,
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set
forth in the forward-looking statements include Nuvilex's ability
to continue as a going concern, delays or unsuccessful results in
clinical trials or flaws or defects regarding its product
candidates, changes in relevant legislation or regulatory
requirements, uncertainty of protection of Nuvilex's intellectual
property and Nuvilex's continued ability to raise capital. Nuvilex
does not assume any obligation to update any of these
forward-looking statements.
More information about Nuvilex can be found at www.nuvilex.com. It can also be obtained by contacting
Investor Relations.
Investor Relations Contacts:
Clare Matschullat
Blueprint Life Science Group
Telephone: 415.375.3340 Ext. 106
cmatschullat@bplifescience.com