PharmaCyte Biotech Initiates Expanded Follow-up Study in the United States on the Accumulation of Malignant Ascites Fluid
February 19 2015 - 9:30AM
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 the commencement of an
expanded, follow-up study of the effectiveness of its pancreatic
cancer treatment (a combination of low doses of the cancer prodrug
ifosfamide and Cell-in-a-Box® capsules containing live cells
capable of converting ifosfamide into its cancer-killing form) on
the accumulation of malignant ascites fluid.
"We are looking forward to the results of this expanded
preclinical study of the effectiveness of our pancreatic cancer
treatment in reducing the rate of malignant ascites fluid
accumulation in the abdomen. If successful, it could quickly lead
to a clinical trial in patients with abdominal tumors who suffer
from this very serious cancer-associated malady," commented Kenneth
L. Waggoner, Chief Executive Officer of PharmaCyte Biotech.
In the initial study, mice given an aggressive human ovarian
cancer (ES-2), which produces significant amounts of malignant
ascites fluid, were divided into 4 groups. There were 10 mice in
each group. The mice in Group 1 served as a control group. Group 2
was made up of mice treated with PharmaCyte Biotech's pancreatic
cancer treatment. Group 3 was treated with cisplatin, a
chemotherapy drug often used to treat ovarian cancer. Group 4 was
treated with a combination of PharmaCyte Biotech's pancreatic
cancer treatment and cisplatin.
The follow-up study will use the same ES-2 ovarian cancer model.
In this study, the mice will be divided into 13 different treatment
groups, with 10 mice in each group. The follow-up study is designed
to better define the parameters that will be needed to design a
future Phase 1 clinical trial in humans that suffer from malignant
ascites fluid accumulation as a result of their abdominal cancers,
such as pancreatic, liver, ovarian, uterine and colon. The study
will be conducted by Translational Drug Development (TD2) in the
U.S. which was designed by pancreatic cancer expert Dr. Daniel D.
Von Hoff, Chief Development Officer of TD2.
The accumulation of ascites fluid is problematic for patients
with an abdominal cancer because it is painful and can cause
breathing and other serious problems. Once it gets to a certain
stage, it must be removed on a regular basis. This procedure in
itself is very uncomfortable for patients and costly. PharmaCyte
Biotech expects that its pancreatic cancer treatment will
ultimately prove to be effective in slowing the accumulation of
malignant ascites fluid and thus reduce the number of withdrawals
of the fluid that patients must endure over a given period of
time.
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'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