Novel Mechanism Of Introgen Therapeutics, Inc.'s INGN 241 Cancer Therapy Inhibits Tumor Angiogenesis By Blocking Production Of VEGF
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. today reported data describing a novel mechanism of action by which its mda-7/IL 24 based therapy, INGN 241, inhibits the formation of new blood vessels, called angiogenesis. In the absence of angiogenesis, tumors cannot establish a sufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients causing tumor cell death and inhibition of tumor growth. Introgen's studies demonstrate that INGN 241 acts as an anti-angiogenic agent to inhibit production of a key mediator of angiogenesis called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein. These studies are published in the current issue of Molecular Therapy and were conducted by researchers at Introgen and their collaborators at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Inhibition of angiogenesis is a validated approach to treating cancer, as evidenced by the recent approval of an anti-angiogenesis antibody called Avastin(R), approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year. While Avastin attempts to inhibit VEGF function by blocking its receptor, INGN 241 appears to block the production of VEGF and thus inhibits angiogenesis in a more direct fashion than Avastin. In addition, INGN 241 also acts through other mechanisms to suppress tumor growth, stimulate anti-tumor immunity, and sensitize tumors to the effects of radiation and chemotherapy.
Sunil Chada, Ph.D., Introgen's associate vice president, Clinical Research said, "The data reported today demonstrate that INGN 241 blocks VEGF gene expression and production of VEGF protein. Because VEGF is such a potent stimulator of tumor angiogenesis, eliminating or reducing the amount of VEGF protein produced by cancer cells may have important therapeutic effects. The multiple anti-cancer activities of INGN 241 make this agent a unique cancer treatment that incorporates several validated therapeutic approaches into a single drug."
The published studies evaluated the effect of INGN 241 on VEGF expression and activity in human prostate cancer cell lines. INGN 241 treatment resulted in a significant inhibition of VEGF expression and VEGF release from cancer cells. The data show that INGN 241 inhibited the activity molecular pathways required for turning on the VEGF gene.
"Our data demonstrate that INGN 241 elicits anti-cancer effects through multiple mechanisms," said Rajagopal Ramesh, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and lead author on the study. "In addition to activating cell death pathways in cancer cells, our data demonstrate how INGN 241 inhibits angiogenesis by blocking VEGF expression."
Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of targeted molecular therapies for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Introgen is developing molecular therapeutics, immunotherapies, vaccines and nano-particle tumor suppressor therapies to treat a wide range of cancers using tumor suppressors, cytokines and genes. Introgen maintains integrated research, development, manufacturing, clinical and regulatory departments and operates multiple manufacturing facilities including a commercial scale cGMP manufacturing facility.
The mda-7 gene, the active component in INGN 241, was discovered by the laboratory of Dr. Paul B. Fisher, professor of clinical pathology at Columbia University. Introgen holds an exclusive worldwide license for all gene therapy applications from the Corixa Corporation.
Introgen holds a licensing agreement with M. D. Anderson to commercialize products based on licensed technologies, and has the option to license future technologies under sponsored research agreements. Dr. Ramesh is a paid consultant to Introgen. The University of Texas System Board of Regents own stock in Introgen. These arrangements are managed in accordance with M. D. Anderson's conflict of interest policies.
Statements in this release that are not strictly historical may be "forward-looking" statements, including those relating to Introgen's future success with its clinical development program for treatment of cancer or other diseases and relating to INGN 241 and its development as a monotherapy, as part of combination regimens, as an anti-angiogenic agent and as an immunotherapy. The actual results may differ from those described in this release due to risks and uncertainties that exist in Introgen's operations and business environment, including Introgen's stage of product development and the limited experience in the development of gene-based drugs in general, dependence upon proprietary technology and the current competitive environment, history of operating losses and accumulated deficits, reliance on collaborative relationships, and uncertainties related to clinical trials, the safety and efficacy of Introgen's product candidates, the ability to obtain the appropriate regulatory approvals, Introgen's patent protection and market acceptance, as well as other risks detailed from time to time in Introgen's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its filings on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Introgen undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to any forward-looking statements that reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof.
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Contact: Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. C. Channing Burke (512) 708 9310 Ext. 322 Email: c.burke@introgen.com
Introgen Therapeutics, Inc.CONTACT: C. Channing Burke of Introgen Therapeutics, Inc.,+1-512-708-9310, ext. 322, or c.burke@introgen.com
Web site: http://www.introgen.com/