PharmaCyte Biotech's Melligen Cells Prove Safe in First Preclinical Test
May 06 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 the Institute of
Virology at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, one of
the partners in PharmaCyte Biotech's international Diabetes
Consortium, has completed the first round of safety testing of the
Melligen cells in mice.
The study showed that Melligen cells are as safe as the cells
that were encapsulated with the Cell-in-a-Box® technology and then
used together with the cancer drug ifosfamide to treat patients
with advanced pancreatic cancer in previously conducted clinical
trials. This safety study is the first study in animals of the
Melligen cells that has been done as part of the work of the
international Diabetes Consortium. Additional safety, as well as
efficacy and dose finding studies, of the Melligen cells are
planned for the near future.
Kenneth L. Waggoner, Chief Executive Officer of PharmaCyte
Biotech, said, "We are pleased that our first test of the Melligen
cells has shown favorable results. Given these results, we are
moving forward with our efforts on multiple fronts to develop a
treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes using PharmaCyte Biotech's
Cell-in-a-Box® technology to encapsulate Melligen cells. We believe
that, by implanting encapsulated Melligen cells into diabetic
patients, we will be able to eliminate the need for daily
injections of insulin in diabetic patients. In our opinion, this
therapy is at the forefront of finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes
and for those patients with Type 2 diabetes in need of
insulin."
Melligen cells have shown promise as a potential treatment for
insulin dependent diabetes through the genetic engineering of
human, non-pancreatic beta cells that makes the Melligen cells
capable of regulating blood sugar levels by producing insulin on
demand. In the past, when Melligen cells were transplanted into
diabetic mice, the blood glucose levels of the mice became normal.
This observation illustrates that Melligen cells can reverse the
diabetic condition in animals.
PharmaCyte Biotech has the exclusive worldwide rights to use the
Melligen cells to treat diabetes. These rights were obtained from
the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) where Prof. Ann Simpson,
along with her colleagues at UTS, have spent years developing this
unique cell line.
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 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 brain, breast and
pancreas, 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