PharmaCyte Biotech Initiates First Preclinical Study of Its Encapsulated Cell Product for Novel Treatment of Diabetes
February 02 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 reported that the first
preclinical evaluation of its proprietary Melligen cell line for
the treatment of diabetes has commenced in the Institute of
Virology, Department of Pathobiology, at the University of
Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria. This study is the first of
a number of preclinical studies that will be performed. These
studies are designed to test the safety, efficacy and dosing of
Melligen cells, a human cell line engineered to produce and store
insulin and secrete it at levels in proportion to the levels of
glucose (blood sugar) in the human body.
The insulin-producing Melligen cell line that will be
encapsulated using the Cell-in-a-Box® technology was developed by
PharmaCyte Biotech's international Diabetes Consortium partner,
Prof. Ann M. Simpson, at the University of Technology Sydney. The
University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna group and Austrianova are
also members of PharmaCyte Biotech's international Diabetes
Consortium. Austrianova has previously encapsulated Melligen cells
and has successfully performed preliminary in vitro analyses of
them.
Kenneth L. Waggoner, Chief Executive Officer of PharmaCyte
Biotech, said, "We are pleased that our first preclinical study on
the use of the Melligen cell line has begun so rapidly after the
establishment of our international Diabetes Consortium. This group
brings together key world-renowned scientists and physicians in a
number of areas that are crucial for the development of PharmaCyte
Biotech's novel Cell-in-a-Box®-based treatment for diabetes."
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 will be 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 for patients with
advanced pancreatic cancer and on 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 Biotech's ability to continue as a going
concern, delays or unsuccessful results in preclinical and clinical
trials, 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