YM BioSciences expands anti-cancer product pipeline

 

    - Company licenses portfolio of drugs that may enhance chemotherapies -

 

    MISSISSAUGA, ON, Aug. 10 /CNW/ - YM BioSciences Inc. (AMEX:YMI, TSX:YM,

AIM:YMBA), the cancer product development company, announced today that it

entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with the University of

Saskatchewan for a portfolio of small molecule oncology compounds. The

'Saskatchewan' compounds appear to be highly potent chemopotentiators - drugs

that enhance the activities of existing chemotherapeutic treatments.

    "This new technology platform represents an additional opportunity for

YM BioSciences to expand its already significant franchise in cancer through

the development of a new generation of combination drug treatments that

enhance the cytotoxic activities of chemotherapeutic drugs," said David Allan,

Chairman and CEO. "The licensing of these new compounds is consistent with our

strategy to create treatments for a variety of tumour types through

development of a broad range of potentiating anti-cancer agents, attributes

shared by both of our lead compounds, tesmilifene and TheraCIM h-R3.

Potentiation of existing therapies, making them effective in improving

survival, has become an important area in cancer and YM has an established

place within it. Our lead drug tesmilifene is currently undergoing a pivotal

Phase III trial to confirm its ability to enhance the therapeutic effect of

chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer. A Phase II trial to further

demonstrate its synergistic effects with taxanes is approved and first

patients should be recruited this quarter. TheraCIM h-R3, which has been

demonstrated to significantly improve the response rates to radiation in

certain cancers, is expected to enter one and possibly two Phase III pivotal

trials as early as this quarter."

    "The lead licensed compounds, propargylamines, have demonstrated

significant in-vivo biological activity, a favorable profile in pre-clinical

toxicology studies, and enhancement of the effectiveness of cytotoxic agents

in drug-resistant cells with cytoprotection of normal cells. This class of

compounds has also been demonstrated to protect normal tissues, but not tumour

cells, against radiation," said Dr. Paul Keane, Director of Medical Affairs

for YM BioSciences. "By licensing these compounds at the pre-clinical stage of

development YM will be able to establish optimal dosing regimens,

formulations, and drug combinations prior to advancing them into clinical

trials."

    The 'Saskatchewan' compounds are protected by three sets of intellectual

property and have demonstrated activity in cancer, neurological and other

degenerative diseases. It is YM's intention to focus its own resources on the

oncology applications and seek partners in order to advance these compounds in

neurological applications. In addition, YM anticipates further testing the

chemopotentiation properties of the 'Saskatchewan' compounds by integrating

them into its ongoing mechanism-of-action research program which is currently

evaluating tesmilifene with a range of cytotoxics. This program may lead to

fundamental discoveries in defining optimal combination therapies for a broad

range of anti-neoplastic agents and compounds that enhance cytotoxic

activities.

 

    About YM BioSciences

    YM BioSciences Inc. is a cancer product development company. Its lead

drug, tesmilifene, is a small molecule chemopotentiator currently undergoing a

700-patient pivotal Phase III trial in metastatic and recurrent breast cancer.

Published results from tesmilifene's first Phase III trial in the same

indication demonstrated a substantial increase in survival for women treated

with the combination of tesmilifene and chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy

alone, demonstrating that tesmilifene significantly enhanced the therapeutic

effect of chemotherapy. In addition to tesmilifene, the Company is developing

TheraCIM hR3, an EGFr humanized monoclonal antibody for which Phase II

clinical data were released in 2005 in pediatric glioma and nasopharyngeal

cancer, and for which Phase III IND applications have been filed.

YM BioSciences is also developing its anti-GnRH, anti-cancer vaccine, Norelin,

for which Phase II data have been released. In May 2005, the Company acquired

DELEX Therapeutics Inc., a private clinical stage biotechnology company

developing AeroLEF(TM), a unique inhalation-delivered formulation of the

established drug, fentanyl, to treat acute pain including cancer pain. This

product has completed a Phase IIa trial with positive results and YM proposes

to advance AeroLEF(TM) through a Phase IIb pain trial in 2005.

 

    Except for historical information, this press release may contain  

forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current expectation

regarding future events. These forward-looking statements involve risk and

uncertainties, which may cause but are not limited to, changing market

conditions, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the

establishment of corporate alliances, the impact of competitive products and

pricing, new product development, uncertainties related to the regulatory

approval process and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's

ongoing quarterly and annual reporting.

 

   

 

    For further information: James Smith, the Equicom Group Inc., Tel.

(416) 815-0700 x 229, Fax (416) 815-0080, Email: jsmith(at)equicomgroup.com;

YM BioSciences Inc., Tel. (905) 629-9761, Fax (905) 629-4959, Email:

ir(at)ymbiosciences.com; Doug Gill, ILO Managing Director, University of

Saskatchewan, (306) 966-7335, http://www.usask.ca/research/ilo

    (YMBA)

 



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