PharmaCyte Biotech's Expanded Follow-up Study on Malignant Ascites Fluid Accumulation in Final Stages of Preparation
January 26 2015 - 9:00AM
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 reported that preparations for an
expanded, follow-up study of the effectiveness of its pancreatic
cancer treatment (a combination of low doses of the cancer prodrug
ifosfamide and Cell-in-a- Box® capsules containing live cells
capable of converting ifosfamide into its cancer-killing form) on
the accumulation of malignant ascites fluid are in their final
stages. This preclinical study will be conducted by Translational
Drug Development (TD2) in the United States. Pancreatic cancer
expert Dr. Daniel D. Von Hoff is the Chief Development Officer of
TD2 and a principal architect of the study. It is expected that the
study will begin in approximately two weeks.
This expanded study is designed to build upon the successful
results of the pilot study that was completed by TD2 late last
year. In that study, mice bearing an aggressive human ovarian
cancer (ES-2), which produces significant amounts of malignant
ascites fluid, were divided into 4 groups with 10 mice in each
group. The mice in Group 1 served as a control group. Group 2 was
made up of mice treated with PharmaCyte Biotech's pancreatic cancer
treatment. Group 3 was treated with cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug
often used to treat ovarian cancer. Group 4 was treated with a
combination of PharmaCyte Biotech's pancreatic cancer treatment and
cisplatin.
The new expanded study will use the same ES-2 ovarian cancer
model, but in this study, the mice will be divided into 13
different treatment groups with 10 mice in each group. This study
is designed to better define the parameters that will be needed to
design a future Phase 1 clinical trial in humans that suffer from
malignant ascites fluid accumulation as a result of their abdominal
cancers, such as pancreatic, liver, ovarian, uterine and colon.
Kenneth L. Waggoner, Chief Executive Officer of PharmaCyte
Biotech, said, "We are looking forward to this expanded preclinical
study of the effectiveness of our pancreatic cancer treatment in
reducing the rate of malignant ascites fluid accumulation in the
abdomen. If successful, it could quickly lead to a clinical trial
in patients with abdominal tumors who suffer from this very serious
cancer-associated malady. The accumulation of ascites fluid is
problematic for patients with an abdominal cancer because it's very
painful and can cause breathing problems. Once it gets to a certain
stage, it must be removed on a regular basis. This procedure in
itself is very uncomfortable for patients and costly. Hopefully,
our pancreatic cancer treatment will slow the accumulation of this
malignant ascites fluid and thus reduce the number of withdrawals
of the fluid that are needed over a given period of time. To our
knowledge, there is no other treatment on the market that can
accomplish this - particularly in the case of advanced
cancers."
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 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 pancreas, brain and breast, 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