Lpath and Echelon Introduce New Cancer Research Assay Based on Lpath's Breakthrough Anti-Cancer Drug Candidate, Sphingomab(TM)
July 10 2007 - 9:45AM
PR Newswire (US)
SAN DIEGO, July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lpath, Inc.
(OTC:LPTN), the category leader in therapeutic agents against
bioactive lipids, and Echelon Biosciences Inc., a unit of AEterna
Zentaris (NASDAQ:AEZSNASDAQ:TSX:NASDAQ:AEZ) and a pioneer in the
field of lipid research and lipid-protein interactions, have
introduced a new assay for cancer research based on Lpath's
patented breakthrough anti-cancer drug candidate, Sphingomab(TM).
The assay is offered exclusively via Echelon's order line at (866)
588-0455 and Echelon catalog number K-1900. Sphingomab is a
monoclonal antibody against sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), an
important bioactive lipid that has been well validated as a cancer
drug target. Recent scientific literature suggests S1P is a potent
tumorigenic growth factor that is likely released from tumor cells,
and S1P may be a novel biomarker for early-stage cancer detection.
S1P, a key component of the sphingolipid signaling cascade,
initiates a proliferative, pro-angiogenic, and anti-apoptotic
sequence of events contributing to cancer progression. Sphingosine
kinase, the enzyme that produces S1P, has also been shown to be
up-regulated in a variety of cancer types. The new assay,
co-developed by Lpath and Echelon, is designed as a sensitive and
robust method for the quantification of S1P. It was developed under
an exclusive agreement that grants Echelon world-wide rights to
develop, market, and sell a "research use only" assay kit that
incorporates Sphingomab as a method to determine the concentration
of S1P. "The introduction of this assay represents a major
milestone for Lath and the advancement of Sphingomab," notes Dr.
Roger Sabbadini, Lpath's founder and chief scientific officer. "It
provides the scientific research community a powerful new vehicle
to further understand the role of S1P and validate it as a
promising therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer and a
variety of other indications. Echelon is a well regarded and highly
capable company in the area of phospholipid and sphingolipid
research products, and has proven to be an ideal partner in this
endeavor." W. Tim Miller, Echelon's president and CEO, added, "We
look forward to further collaborating with Lpath and applying its
advanced technology to develop an entire suite of
sphingosine-related reagents and assays for advancing the research
of cancer and human cellular disease." Independent research
demonstrating the profound anti-cancer effects of Sphingomab were
published in the March 2006 edition of the prestigious journal,
Cancer Cell. (See:
http://www.cancercell.org/content/article/fulltext?uid=PIIS1535610806000602).
About Lpath Lpath, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, California, is
the category leader in lipidomic-based therapeutics, an emerging
field of medical science whereby bioactive signaling lipids are
targeted for treating important human diseases. Lpath's lead
product candidate, Sphingomab, is a monoclonal antibody against a
validated cancer target, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), and has
demonstrated compelling results in preclinical studies against
multiple forms of cancers, against AMD, and against heart failure.
Sphingomab is potently anti-angiogenic, yet it has other mechanisms
of action that may prove advantageous in the clinical setting. As
such, Lpath believes Sphingomab may represent the next generation
of anti-angiogenesis-based therapeutics. Lpath's second product
candidate, Lpathomab(TM), is a monoclonal antibody against
lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a key bioactive lipid that has been
long recognized as a significant promoter of cancer-cell growth and
metastasis in a broad range of tumor types. Lpath's unique ability
to generate antibodies against bioactive lipids is based on its
patented ImmuneY2(TM) technology. The company intends to apply the
ImmuneY2 process to other important lipid-signaling agents, thereby
providing a robust pipeline of antibody-based drug candidates.
Sphingomab is a trademark of Lpath Inc. For more information about
Lpath and Sphingomab visit http://www.lpath.com/. About Echelon
Echelon Biosciences Inc. is a leader in the field of lipid research
and lipid-protein interactions that are essential top-level
regulators in numerous cell signaling cascades. Abnormal signaling
elements lead to many diseases like cancer, inflammation, diabetes,
and cardiovascular disease. Echelon has been a top supplier of
research information, lipid signaling assay and reagent technology
for years with 600 customers in 40 countries around the world
including major pharmaceutical companies and leading academic
research institutions. It's rapidly expanding family of novel
research assays and reagents for phospholipids, sphingolipids, and
lysophospholipids provide the most advanced offering of its kind.
Echelon also has an early-stage program in anti-infective
development, targeting a novel pathway found in many problematic
Gram negative bacteria. Echelon is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Aeterna Zentaris, Inc. For more information about Echelon, visit
http://www.echelon-inc.com/ Forward-Looking Statements Except for
statements of historical fact, the matters discussed in this press
release are forward looking and reflect numerous assumptions and
involve a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are
beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ
materially from stated expectations. For example, there can be no
assurance that required clinical trials will be successful,
necessary regulatory approvals will be obtained, or the proposed
treatments will prove to be safe or effective. Actual results may
also differ substantially from those described in or contemplated
by this press release due to risks and uncertainties that exist in
our operations and business environment, including, without
limitation, our limited experience in the development of
therapeutic drugs, our dependence upon proprietary technology, our
history of operating losses and accumulated deficits, our reliance
on research grants, current and future competition, and other risks
described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to release publicly
the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to
reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof.
Lpath Contacts: Scott Pancoast, President and CEO Lpath Investor
Relations Liolios Group, Inc. Scott Liolios or Ron Both
949-574-3860 Echelon Contacts: W. Tim Miller President and CEO
801-588-0455 DATASOURCE: Lpath, Inc.; Echelon Biosciences Inc.
CONTACT: Scott Pancoast, President and CEO of Lpath, ; or Investor
Relations, Scott Liolios or Ron Both, both of Liolios Group, Inc.,
, +1-949-574-3860, for Lpath; or W. Tim Miller, President and CEO
of Echelon, , +1-801-588-0455 Web site: http://www.lpath.com/
http://www.echelon-inc.com/
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