TORONTO, April 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DURAVEST, INC. (BULLETIN BOARD: DUVT.OB, XETRA: DUV) , (“Duravest” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the launch of its new corporate website located at http://www.duravestinc.com/.
The newly designed and updated Duravest corporate website provides the most complex and up-to-date information about the Company’s business as well as a hosted web presentation of Estracure, Inc. -- a Canadian biotechnology firm, in which Duravest holds 51% equity stake through its wholly owned subsidiary Cardio Management Systems, Inc.
About Estracure Inc. -- The Science
Estracure Inc. was founded in 2001 around technologies developed at the Montreal Heart Institute. Based in Montreal, Canada, Estracure is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the development of novel cardiovascular therapeutics products for improved care and clinical outcomes for patients with heart conditions.
Estracure has just completed the recruitment of 300 patients for a Canadian double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized Phase II multicenter clinical trial. The objectives of this trial were to demonstrate the efficacy of 17-beta-Estradiol, a natural and endogenous hormone, in preventing restenosis following angioplasty and to establish its safety profile. Analysis of all clinical data has been initiated and final results will be available by Q2 2005. The anticipated successful outcome of this trial will have two significant benefits.
First, it would show that 17-beta-Estradiol is at least as effective as sirolimus and paclitaxel, antiproliferative agents that only prevent smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. In addition to sharing this effect, 17-beta-Estradiol was also shown, in animal studies, to stimulate endothelial cells proliferation and migration, which are responsible for repairing damaged vessels. This dual mode of action is unique to 17-beta-Estradiol and Estracure will initiate in the near future a clinical trial in which it will attempt to demonstrate the beneficial tissue repair properties of 17-beta-Estradiol.
Secondly, it would demonstrate that 17-beta-Estradiol, because of its endogenous nature, will have a better safety profile that the one of antiproliferative drugs currently used. In October 2003, the FDA has issued a warning on hypersensitivy reactions associated with sirolimus, which in some cases have been fatal. This situation is an important concern for health professionals and patients.
If the anticipated outcomes are confirmed by the analysis of the data provided by the initial clinical trial, Duravest believes that Estracure will have a significant competitive advantage in terms of efficacy and safety and that it will gain rapid adoption in the prevention of restenosis.
About restenosis
When doctors started to use stents after angioplasty to prevent coronary arterial walls from re-closing, they found that in 30 to 50% of the cases re-occlusion occurred in the 3 to 6 months following the procedure. The restenosis is predominantly caused by an excessive multiplication of cells (hyperplasia) associated with the insertion of a stent in the vessel. Renewed surgery is then necessary. The restenosis market is estimated to be between 3-5 billions US dollars. To avoid restenosis, stents have been coated with various drugs. The first generation of medicated stents was coated with drugs that would reduce and even suppress the excessive cell multiplication preventing the restenosis from occurring. That is the rationale for the utilization of antiproliferative drugs to coat stents.
Estrogen is well known for its cardioprotective properties and it explains why a group of researchers from the Montreal Hearth Institute decided to evaluate the efficacy of a naturally occurring derivative, 17-beta-Estradiol to prevent restenosis associated with angioplasty. In 1999, Estracure demonstrated, in porcine studies, the efficacy of 17-beta-Estradiol in preventing restenosis. These studies also showed that 17-beta-Estradiol achieved this prevention by a dual mode of action. In addition to preventing excessive smooth muscle cell multiplication, like antiproliferative drugs, it also stimulated the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. These latter cells are important because they are involved in the healing of damaged vessels and contribute to the re-endothelialization of the stented vessel. These characteristics are unique to 17-beta-Estradiol and put it in a class of its own.
Forward-Looking Statement
Statements included in this press release which are not historical in nature, are intended to be, and are hereby identified as “Forward Looking Statements” for purposes of safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward Looking Statements may be identified by words including “anticipate,” “await,” “envision,” “foresee,” “aim at,” “believe,” “intends,” “estimates” including without limitation, those relating to the Company’s future business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the Forward Looking Statements. Readers are directed to the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for additional information and a presentation of the risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company’s business and results of operations.
Duravest Inc.
CONTACT: Patti Cooke, President, Duravest Inc., +1-416-961-1409, fax,+1-416-964-8779, pcooke@duravestinc.com
Web site: http://www.duravestinc.com/