PharmaCyte Biotech’s Cannabinoid Therapy May Offer Potential for Childhood Brain Cancers
December 27 2016 - 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 recent research
performed at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of
Chicago and Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine
and published in the journal Child’s Nervous System provides
further support for PharmaCyte’s efforts to develop a targeted
cannabinoid-based chemotherapy for brain cancer utilizing its
technology.
The article, titled “Spontaneous involution of
pediatric low-grade gliomas: high expression of cannabinoid
receptor 1 (CNR1) at the time of diagnosis may indicate involvement
of the endocannabinoid system,” showed that activators of the
endocannabinoid system offer potential therapeutic opportunities
for children with pediatric low-grade gliomas (P-LGG). P-LGGs
consist of a mixed group of brain tumors that represent the
majority of central nervous system tumors in children. Some P-LGGs
exhibit spontaneous shrinking after less than total surgical
removal. For the first time, spontaneous shrinking of P-LGG has
been suggested to be induced by endocannabinoids.
PharmaCyte’s Chief Executive Officer, Kenneth L.
Waggoner, commented, “It is clear that PharmaCyte is on the right
track to developing targeted therapies for deadly cancers. The
research reported in the journal Child’s Nervous System, as well as
other research, continues to demonstrate the anti-cancer properties
of cannabinoids. We remain confident that Cell-in-a-Box® offers a
safe and versatile platform for targeted chemotherapy delivery to
cancerous tumors in the brain.”
The researchers investigated molecular
indicators of spontaneous shrinking in P-LGGs and found that tumors
that remained stable or had spontaneous shrinking after surgery had
significantly higher levels of expression of the CNR1 gene at the
time of diagnosis. They hypothesize that high expression levels of
CNR1 make P-LGGs more susceptible to the anticancer effects of
normally occurring substances in the body known as
endocannabinoids. By extension, plant-derived phytocannabinoid
molecules, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol
(CBD), may provide similar effects through their known interaction
with endocannabinoid receptors like CNR1.
An abstract of the research may be viewed at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27613640
PharmaCyte’s cannabinoid program at the
University of Northern Colorado involves developing a bioengineered
cell line that will activate a cannabinoid-based prodrug into its
cancer-killing form and then encapsulating these cells using the
Cell-in-a-Box® encapsulation technology. When the capsules are
implanted near the tumor and the cannabinoid prodrug is
administered to a patient, targeted chemotherapy results. Prodrugs
of THC and CBD are candidates for this program, and brain cancer is
PharmaCyte’s initial target using this cannabinoid therapy.
Mark L. Rabe, MD, a member of PharmaCyte’s
Medical and Scientific Advisory Board, commented, “It is
fascinating to think the body has built-in anti-cancer capabilities
in the form of the endocannabinoid system. Cell-in-a-Box® offers an
ideal way to leverage the endocannabinoid system’s power by
delivering THC and CBD to brain tumors like P-LGG in a targeted
fashion, with the potential benefits of enhanced efficacy and fewer
side effects.”
About PharmaCyte BiotechPharmaCyte Biotech is a
clinical stage biotechnology company developing therapies 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 therapies for
several types of cancer and diabetes are being
developed. PharmaCyte’s therapy for cancer involves
encapsulating genetically engineered human cells that convert an
inactive chemotherapy drug into its active or “cancer-killing”
form. These encapsulated cells are implanted as close to the
patient’s cancerous tumor as possible. Once implanted, a
chemotherapy drug that is normally activated in the liver
(ifosfamide) is given intravenously at one-third the normal dose.
The ifosfamide is carried by the circulatory system to where the
encapsulated cells have been implanted. When the ifosfamide
comes in contact with the encapsulated cells they act as an
artificial liver and activate the chemotherapy drug at the source
of the cancer. This “targeted chemotherapy” has proven effective
and safe to use in past clinical trials and results in no side
effects.
In addition to developing a novel therapy 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.
Once the encapsulated cells are implanted in a diabetic patient
they will function as an “bio-artificial pancreas” for purposes of
insulin production.
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