NPRO Napro Biotherapeutics (MM)

NaPro Unveils Targeted Therapeutic Platform for Lung, Breast, and Other Cancers at AACR-NCI-EORTC Conference Novel Cytotoxic-Linked Peptide Ligand Selectively Destroys Tumors In Vitro BOULDER, Colo., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Linkage of a tumor-specific peptide with an established anticancer agent, paclitaxel, may be the basis for a targeted highly specific anti-tumor therapy, according to research announced today by scientists from NaPro BioTherapeutics and the University of Alabama. The selective tumor-specific conjugate appears to target a wide variety of cancers expressing the specific peptide receptor. Initial findings were presented at the annual AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targeting and Cancer Therapeutics. "This emerging platform combines the science and known cytotoxic properties of taxanes, compounds with which NaPro has considerable experience, with a proprietary peptide linkage/receptor specific strategy," said Leonard Shaykin, Chairman and CEO of NaPro. "We intend to begin clinical trials with at least one such compound in 2004." NaPro researchers are targeting the bombesin receptor, common to a wide variety of tumor types. In vitro experiments have determined that a specific paclitaxel-bombesin peptide ligand (NBT-300) conjugate is able to deliver cytotoxic concentrations of taxanes via the bombesin receptor into several specific cancer cell lines, including breast, small cell lung, non-small cell lung, head and neck squamous cell, pancreatic, prostate, and neuroblastoma. "Our early studies demonstrate that, upon binding to its receptor, our proprietary conjugate is specifically transported into these cancer cell lines, cleaved, and the intracellularly released paclitaxel destroys the tumor. Levels of cytotoxicity varied with the level of bombesin receptor expression in each tumor line and the paclitaxel concentration. The preliminary data are strongly supportive of a peptide receptor-mediated approach for the treatment of bombesin receptor expressing cancers. Potential advantages may include a lower side effect profile for our conjugate compound and a higher level of tumor 'kill' than an equivalent non-conjugated cytotoxic," commented Lawrence Helson, MD, Vice President, Bioresearch at NaPro. "We may also be able to deliver a therapeutic dose to tumors by means of these conjugates which heretofore, because of systemic toxicity, was not possible." The presentation, "Receptor-based Targeting Strategy for Bombesin Receptor-expressing Cancers," was co-authored by Dr. A. Safavy (University of Alabama) and Drs. James McChesney, Sterling Ainsworth, and Lawrence Helson (NaPro BioTherapeutics.) About NaPro BioTherapeutics NaPro BioTherapeutics, Inc., is a life science company focused on the development of targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer and hereditary disease. Forward Looking Statements The statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that represent management's beliefs and assumptions as of the date of this news release, based on currently available information. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "intends," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "anticipated," "expected" or comparable terminology or by discussions of strategy. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure that these expectations will prove to be correct. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties including: risks associated with development of the genomics, gene editing and targeted businesses, including competition from companies in similar businesses, limitations on the ability to market products because of the intellectual property rights of third parties, the ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patents; the risk that the transaction announced with Faulding Pharmaceutical Co. may not close because it is not approved by stockholders or otherwise or may be materially delayed; the costs of continuing development of any or all of the Company's development programs; the timing of when those programs will enter the clinic; the successful commercialization of the Company's platform technologies; the fact that the Company's business will require substantial additional investment that the Company has not secured; and the risk that the cash proceeds from the Faulding transaction, if realized, will not be sufficient to fund the Company's strategic plans for the initial development new proprietary therapeutic candidates; and all of those factors identified under the captions "Risk Factors," "Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements" or "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements" in the Company's documents filed from time to time with the SEC, including the Company's registration statement on Form S-3, as amended, dated August 8, 2003, its Annual Report on Forms 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ending December 31, 2002 filed with the SEC on March 27, April 30, August 8 and October 24, 2003, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 2, 2003 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2003. Should one or more of these risks materialize (or the consequences of such a development worsen), or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from those forecasted or expected. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional Information In connection with the proposed sale of assets to Faulding, NaPro has filed a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Investors and security holders are urged to read the definitive proxy statement as it contains important information about NaPro, the proposed transaction and related matters. Investors and security holders have access to free copies of the definitive proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC by NaPro through the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov/. The definitive proxy statement and related materials may also be obtained for free from NaPro by calling the company contact listed below. NaPro and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered to be participants in the solicitation of NaPro's stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction is set forth in NaPro's proxy statement for its 2003 annual meeting of stockholders, dated May 23, 2003 and filed with the SEC on May 27, 2003. Additional information is set forth in the definitive proxy statement on file with the SEC related to the proposed sale of assets. For further information, please contact L. Robert Cohen, Vice President, Investor Relations of NaPro BioTherapeutics, Inc., +1-212-218-8715. DATASOURCE: NaPro BioTherapeutics, Inc. CONTACT: L. Robert Cohen, Vice President, Investor Relations of NaPro BioTherapeutics, Inc., +1-212-218-8715; or Investors, Lilian Stern of Stern Investor Relations, +1-212-362-1200, for NaPro BioTherapeutics, Inc. Web site: http://www.naprobio.com/

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