Genesis Biopharma, Inc. to Develop Autologous Cell Therapy for Metastatic Melanoma
LOS ANGELES, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesis Biopharma, Inc. (OTC/BB: GNBP), a biotechnology company developing targeted cancer therapies, today announced an expanded clinical focus to include an autologous cell therapy product candidate, Contego, for the treatment of Stage IV metastatic melanoma. Anthony J. Cataldo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Biopharma, and members of the Company's Scientific and Medical Advisory Board (SMAB) met in Chicago where SMAB members were attending the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) symposia, to review results from similar therapeutic approaches at several of the nation's leading cancer care centers, and plan for the clinical development of Contego.
Contego (Latin for "to shield; to protect") will be developed by Genesis Biopharma as a ready-to-infuse autologous cell therapy product containing tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) obtained from a patient's metastatic melanoma tumors. Following resection of the patient's tumor, TILs are isolated from the resected tumor and expanded in vitro to several hundred million cells. The expanded TILs are then infused into the patient, where they subsequently attack melanoma tumors throughout the body. Contego is based on the TIL adoptive cell therapy being used at the National Cancer Institute, MD Anderson Cancer Center and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute.
"Our intention is to move expeditiously to develop Contego for the treatment of metastatic melanoma," stated Mr. Cataldo. "With the help of our Scientific and Medical Advisory Board, we are hopeful Contego will successfully advance through clinical development and the regulatory process, and become available as a therapeutic option for the estimated 20,000 patients worldwide with Stage IV metastatic melanoma."
Genesis Biopharma's prestigious SMAB is comprised of leading oncology researchers and clinicians in the U.S., including Cassian Yee, M.D., Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; James Mule, Ph.D. and Jeffrey Weber, M.D., Ph.D., of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute; Patrick Hwu, M.D. and Laszlo Radvanyi, Ph.D., of MD Anderson Cancer Center; Daniel Powell, Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Mario Sznol, M.D., of Yale University School of Medicine; and David DiGiusto, Ph.D., of the City of Hope.
About Genesis Biopharma, Inc.
Genesis Biopharma, Inc. is a development-stage biotechnology company engaged in the development of targeted cancer therapies. For more information about the company, visit www.genesis-biopharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
The foregoing announcement contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by such terminology as "expects", "hopes", "potential", "suggests", "bodes", "may", "should", "could", or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. In particular, management's expectations regarding future research, development and/or commercial results could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties relating to clinical trials and product development; availability of future financing; unexpected regulatory delays or government regulation generally; the company's ability to obtain or maintain patent and other proprietary intellectual property protection; and competition in general. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.
SOURCE Genesis Biopharma, Inc.