PharmaCyte Biotech Reports on Progress in Its Medical Cannabis Program
September 01 2016 - 9:15AM
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 provided an update on its program
for developing treatments for serious brain cancers that involve
constituents of the Cannabis plant. These Cannabis-based cancer
therapies, like PharmaCyte’s pancreatic cancer therapy, will
involve the use of its Cell-in-a-Box® technology. The cancer
“prodrug” that will be activated (converted to their cancer-killing
forms) by the cells inside the Cell-in-a-Box® capsules are
constituents of the Cannabis plant known as cannabinoids.
PharmaCyte has contracted with the University of Northern Colorado
(UNCO), led by Dr. Richard M. Hyslop, to conduct the research
related to PharmaCyte’s medical Cannabis program. UNCO has obtained
all of the necessary approvals and has now received research
Cannabis to enable it to advance PharmaCyte’s program.
The Chief Executive Officer of PharmaCyte,
Kenneth L. Waggoner, commented on the progress being made by UNCO,
“Obtaining permission to perform Cannabis-related research has been
a rigorous and time-consuming process. First, a detailed research
plan had to be submitted to, and approved by, the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Agency (DEA) before a Schedule 1 license could be
issued. Then the research plan and a request for Cannabis plant
material had to be submitted to the National Institute on Drug
Abuse (NIDA), the only federally approved source of Cannabis, which
is grown at a facility at the University of Mississippi. Only after
NIDA approved the research plan was Cannabis for research issued to
UNCO. Now that all of these governmental approvals have been
obtained and UNCO has received the research Cannabis, we are
finally able to build upon the firm foundation that had been laid
in our quest to develop targeted cannabinoid cancer chemotherapies
that utilize the Cell-in-a-Box® technology.”
The process being used to develop
cannabinoid-based treatments involves three basic steps. First,
suitable cannabinoid prodrugs or their precursors that are safe and
possess few, if any, side effects must be identified. Second, a
unique human cell line that manufactures an enzyme that “activates”
the cannabinoid prodrug must be developed. This involves
identification of the specific gene that encodes for the production
of the enzyme and then “transfecting” or inserting the gene into
human cells as was done for PharmaCyte’s pancreatic cancer therapy.
Third, the engineered cells must be encapsulated utilizing the
Cell-in-a-Box® technology. The product will then be ready for
testing in various cancer cell lines, animal models and ultimately
humans.
UNCO researchers have developed and standardized
systems and protocols for isolating and utilizing “model”
cannabinoid compounds. Further, various types of cells have been
cultured and then screened for the appropriate prodrug-activating
enzymatic activity, some “target” genes have been amplified, and
preliminary dosing and pharmacokinetic studies have been performed.
Current and future research is focused on: (i) the synthesis and
amplification of specific genes that produce the cannabinoid
prodrug-activating enzymes; (ii) transfection of human cells with
these genes; and (iii) testing of the ability of these transfected
cells to activate cannabinoid prodrugs. Candidates for cannabinoid
prodrugs to be studied include the “acidic” forms of the
cannabinoids cannabidiol (CBDA) and tetrahydrocannabinol
(THCA).
About PharmaCyte
BiotechPharmaCyte Biotech is a clinical stage
biotechnology company 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 technology will be used as a platform upon
which treatments for several types of cancer and diabetes are being
developed. PharmaCyte’s treatment for cancer involves encapsulating
genetically modified live cells that convert an inactive
chemotherapy drug into its active or “cancer-killing” form. These
encapsulated live cells are placed as close to a cancerous tumor as
possible. Once implanted in a patient, a chemotherapy drug which
needs to be activated in the body (ifosfamide) is then given
intravenously at one-third the normal dose. The ifosfamide is
carried by the circulatory system to where the encapsulated cells
have been placed. When the ifosfamide, which is normally activated
in the liver, comes in contact with the encapsulated live cells,
activation of the chemotherapy drug takes place at the source of
the cancer without any side effects from the chemotherapy. This
“targeted chemotherapy” has proven remarkably effective and safe to
use in past clinical trials.
In addition to developing a novel treatment for
cancer, PharmaCyte is developing a treatment for Type 1 diabetes
and insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes. PharmaCyte plans to
encapsulate a human cell line that has been genetically engineered
to produce, store and release insulin in response to the levels of
blood sugar in the human body. The encapsulation will be done using
the Cell-in-a-Box® technology.
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 or its management, are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. Important factors, many of which are
beyond the control of PharmaCyte, 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’s intellectual property and
PharmaCyte’s continued ability to raise capital. PharmaCyte does
not assume any obligation to update any of these forward-looking
statements.
More information about PharmaCyte Biotech can be
found at www.PharmaCyte.com. It can also be obtained by contacting
Investor Relations.
Investor Relations:
PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc.
Investor Relations Department
Telephone: 917.595.2856
Email: Info@PharmaCyte.com