New Research Shows PharmaCyte Biotech's Melligen Cell Line Can Reverse Diabetes
April 10 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 that Prof. Ann Simpson
(a member of PharmaCyte Biotech's international Diabetes
Consortium) and her colleagues at the University of Technology
Sydney and the University of Sydney in Australia have published a
major research article titled "Reversal of diabetes following
transplantation of an insulin-secreting human liver cell line:
Melligen cells" in the journal Molecular Therapy – Methods &
Clinical Development.
This journal is part of the prestigious Nature Publishing Group
and is the official journal of the American Society for Gene and
Cell Therapy. This research article can be viewed in its entirety
at http://www.nature.com/articles/mtm201511.
The article describes the development of the Melligen cell line
and notes that it was developed from human liver cells. Numerous
tests were done during the various stages of the development
process and studies were carried out to show that Melligen cells
secreted insulin in response to physiological concentrations of
glucose (blood sugar). Furthermore, when Melligen cells were
transplanted into diabetic mice whose immune systems were
essentially not functioning, the blood glucose levels of the mice
became normal. This observation illustrates that Melligen cells can
reverse the diabetic condition.
Most importantly, however, the authors of the article note that,
for the Melligen cells to be effective in treating Type 1 diabetes
in humans where the insulin-producing β cells of the pancreas have
been destroyed, it will be necessary to protect those cells from
rejection by the body's immune system after they have been
introduced into the body. The article points out that one way to
protect the Melligen cells would be to encapsulate the cells in
protective "cocoons" prior to being placed into a diabetic patient.
If this is done, the authors believe that encapsulated Melligen
cells may offer a cure for Type 1 diabetes.
PharmaCyte Biotech's live cell encapsulation technology,
Cell-in-a-Box®, appears to be the ideal encapsulation technology
for this purpose. In fact, Melligen cells have already been
successfully encapsulated using the Cell-in-a-Box® process and
experiments are already underway to ensure that encapsulation does
not detract from the beneficial properties of the Melligen cells in
any way.
Prof. Simpson commented, "Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a serious
disorder that significantly reduces patients' quality of life and
costs governments many millions of dollars in patient care. It is
hoped that the Melligen cells, which have been shown to reverse
diabetes in rodents with a normal response to glucose, once
encapsulated in the Cell-in-a-Box® capsules will be an easily
accessible treatment for patients."
Kenneth L. Waggoner, CEO of PharmaCyte Biotech, said, "We
congratulate Prof. Simpson and her colleagues on the publication of
this very important article about Melligen cells which summarizes
years of effort by the individuals involved. Its publication in
such a highly regarded scientific, peer-reviewed journal is
laudable indeed. This research illustrates why PharmaCyte Biotech
is very fortunate to have Prof. Simpson as one of the founding
members of its international Diabetes Consortium and a consultant
to PharmaCyte Biotech. It is anticipated that Prof. Simpson will
play a major role in the development of our treatment for
insulin-dependent diabetes that consists of Melligen cells
encapsulated using the Cell-in-a-Box® technology."
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 and safe to use in past clinical trials. In addition,
PharmaCyte Biotech is working towards improving the quality of life
for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and on treatments for
other types of solid cancerous tumors.
PharmaCyte Biotech is also 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
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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
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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