PharmaCyte Biotech's Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Named as Near-Term Approach to Rising Pancreatic Cancer Rates
January 15 2015 - 9:00AM
PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB: PMCB), a clinical stage
biotechnology company focused on developing targeted treatments for
cancer and diabetes using its signature live cell encapsulation
technology, Cell-in-a-Box®, today announced that well-known
scientific journalist, Vicki Brower, who writes for the leading
top-tier cancer journals, has published an article naming
PharmaCyte Biotech's pancreatic cancer treatment as a near-term
approach to tackling the rising pancreatic cancer rates.
The article appeared in the December edition of the Journal of
the National Cancer Institute prior to the Company's name change
from Nuvilex to PharmaCyte Biotech. Brower's article is titled "New
Approaches Tackle Rising Pancreatic Cancer Rates" and can be read
in full at:
http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/106/12/dju417.full.
The publication features PharmaCyte Biotech's approach, which
uses the Cell-in-a-Box® live cell encapsulation technology combined
with low doses of the anticancer prodrug ifosfamide, under the
section dedicated to Near-Term Approaches. In the article, Brower
mentions PharmaCyte Biotech's upcoming Phase 2b clinical trial to
treat advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer and PharmaCyte
Biotech's Phase 1/2 clinical trial to treat malignant ascites.
Kenneth L. Waggoner, Chief Executive Officer of PharmaCyte
Biotech, said, "This article brings together all of the promising
treatments currently in development for pancreatic cancer, and we
are pleased that our therapy, which is being advanced with the help
of our partner Austrianova, is among them. It is noteworthy that
our successful approach to treat ascites resulting from pancreatic
and other solid tumors is also mentioned."
Brower's article notes that even more effort is needed to
develop new pancreatic cancer treatments because by 2030, the
disease, which is currently the fifth leading cause of
cancer-related deaths in the U.S., could rise to number two on that
list.
Prof. Walter H. Gunzburg, Chief Scientific Officer of PharmaCyte
Biotech, said, "The publication of this independent news article
crowns a very successful year with respect to PharmaCyte Biotech's
oncology product development. The Company's treatment was featured
in two other key publications and was granted the orphan drug
designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its
pancreatic cancer product. Further, the GMP manufacturing facility
that will provide the "Cell-in-a-Box" product for upcoming clinical
trials was opened. This year looks like it will shape up to be an
even more exciting one than the last for PharmaCyte Biotech."
About PharmaCyte Biotech
PharmaCyte Biotech 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 is being used as a platform upon which
treatments for several types of cancer, including advanced,
inoperable pancreatic cancer, and diabetes are being built.
PharmaCyte Biotech's treatment for pancreatic cancer involves low
doses of the well-known anticancer prodrug ifosfamide, together
with encapsulated live cells, which convert ifosfamide into its
active or "cancer-killing" form. These capsules are placed as close
to the cancerous tumor as possible to enable the delivery of the
highest levels of the cancer-killing drug at the source of the
cancer.
This "targeted chemotherapy" has proven remarkably effective in
past clinical trials. PharmaCyte Biotech is also working towards
improving the quality of life of patients with advanced pancreatic
cancer and on developing treatments for other types of solid
cancerous tumors. In addition, PharmaCyte Biotech is developing
treatments for cancer based upon chemical constituents of the
Cannabis plant, known as cannabinoids. In doing so, PharmaCyte
Biotech 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 PharmaCyte Biotech the rare opportunity
to develop "green" approaches to fighting deadly diseases, such as
cancer 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 PharmaCyte Biotech 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 PharmaCyte Biotech or its
management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Important factors, many of which are beyond the control of
PharmaCyte Biotech, could cause actual results to differ materially
from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. They
include PharmaCyte'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 PharmaCyte
Biotech's intellectual property and PharmaCyte Biotech's continued
ability to raise capital. PharmaCyte Biotech does not assume
any obligation to update any of these forward-looking
statements.
More information about PharmaCyte Biotech can be found at
www.PharmaCyteBiotech.com. It can also be obtained by
contacting Investor Relations.
CONTACT: Investor Relations Contacts:
Jamien Jones
Blueprint Life Science Group
Telephone: 415.375.3340 Ext. 103
jjones@bplifescience.com