PharmaCyte Biotech Diabetes Consortium Member Publishes Review Article on Use of Genetic Engineering to Treat Diabetes
February 13 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 its partner, the
University of Technology Sydney (UTS), has published a review
article on cell and gene therapies for the treatment of diabetes.
The publication, titled "The use of β-cell transcription factors in
engineering artificial β cells from non-pancreatic tissue," which
was authored by a member of PharmaCyte Biotech's Diabetes
Consortium, Prof. Ann M. Simpson and her colleagues at UTS,
appeared in the prestigious Nature publishing group scientific
journal Gene Therapy. This review can be located by clicking here.
The article reports that cell and gene therapies have shown
promise as a potential cure for Type 1 diabetes through the genetic
engineering of non-pancreatic cells that makes them capable of
regulating blood glucose levels by producing insulin on demand.
Such genetic modification and augmentation of non-pancreatic cells
has the ultimate goal of producing glucose-responsive "artificial"
β insulin-producing cells that mimic the function of pancreatic β
cells in non-diabetic individuals.
Using some of the technology discussed in the review article,
Prof. Simpson and her colleagues have developed the Melligen cell
line, a human non-pancreatic cell line that originated from liver
cells that were genetically 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 Melligen cell line is
currently undergoing an initial evaluation for its utility in
PharmaCyte Biotech's Cell-in-a-Box®-based treatment of diabetes,
the first of a number of preclinical studies that will be performed
by PharmaCyte Biotech's international Diabetes Consortium.
Kenneth L. Waggoner, Chief Executive Officer of PharmaCyte
Biotech, said, "We are delighted by this important publication from
one of the key members of our international Diabetes Consortium.
Prof. Simpson is a world-renowned scientist in the field of
diabetes and, as this publication shows, is at the forefront of
research into finding a cure for this disease."
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.
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regarding PharmaCyte Biotech and its future events and results that
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Important factors, many of which are beyond the control of
PharmaCyte Biotech, could cause actual results to differ materially
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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
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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