Diatos S.A. Pre-Clinical Results Published in Clinical Cancer Research

Paris, France, 1 April 2008 – Diatos SA, an international biopharmaceutical company focusing on the research, development and commercialization of targeted anti-cancer drugs, announced that the peer-reviewed medical journal ‘Clinical Cancer Research’ has today published positive pre-clinical in vivo efficacy and toxicology results concerning DTS-108. The research demonstrated that DTS-108 has greater anti-tumoral efficacy and safety, compared to irinotecan, as a result of an efficient and non-hepatic mode of activation. This leads to significantly higher circulating levels of the active metabolite with reduced gastrointestinal toxicity. In addition, it is anticipated that DTS-108 will bypass the inter-patient variability which is a major limitation in the therapeutic use of irinotecan. This is due to enhanced delivery of the active metabolite by using Diatos’ linker peptide technology, Vectocell®, which safe guards the efficacy whilst reducing the toxic side effects of the anti-cancer product.

Irinotecan is an effective chemotherapeutic agent that is prescribed for advanced colorectal, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). The principle side effect of irinotecan is severe (grade 3-4) diarrhoea observed in 30-40% of treated patients. A significant clinical advantage should therefore be gained from the direct administration of the active metabolite, SN38, using a drug delivery technology such as Vectocell®, which delivers higher concentrations of SN38, whilst bypassing the severe side effects.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Jonathan Kearsey, Ph.D, Director of Research at Diatos, said: “The search for cytotoxic molecules with enhanced efficacy and toxicity profiles is essential for improved cancer patient care. This peer-reviewed publication represents another step in the validation of the benefits of DTS-108 versus standard of care treatment.”

“Rapid completion of the preclinical toxicology program is expected to allow Diatos to further evaluate the benefit of DTS-108 and the Vectocell® technology platform in the clinical setting.” He added.