ARLINGTON, Va., June 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Champions Biotechnology, Inc. , a company engaged in the development of advanced preclinical platforms and tumor specific data to enhance the value of oncology drugs, today announced that it has begun preclinical development of the lead Benzoylphenylurea (BPU) sulfur analog compound that the Company acquired last year. The compound has shown promising activity against in vitro and in vivo models of prostate and pancreatic cancer.
Preclinical supplies of the drug substance have been recently secured and the preclinical development process is being initiated. Champions Biotechnology intends to test the BPU Agent utilizing its Biomerk Tumorgraft(TM) Preclinical Platform. Studies utilizing Biomerk Tumorgrafts are conducted like Phase II clinical trials and leading pharmaceutical companies are utilizing the Platform because it is believed to be more predictive than traditional preclinical models.
“We believe that our Biomerk Tumorgrafts accurately predict the outcome of Phase II clinical trials at the early preclinical stage. This provides an enormous advantage versus traditional preclinical models. By testing the BPU Agent against panels of Biomerk Tumorgrafts from several different cancer types, we should be able to identify the compound’s best application, predict the outcome of Phase II human trials and, if appropriate, discover biomarkers that may accelerate its clinical development,” stated Champions Biotechnology’s Chief Scientific Officer, Manual Hidalgo, M.D., Ph.D.
Champions Biotechnology’s BPU Agent is an antimitotic inhibitor that targets MAPT (Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau) deficient tumors, a common feature of solid tumors (Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 2007; 6(5): 1509- 1516). The Company, in exchange for 550,000 restricted shares of its common stock, was assigned all the rights in the U.S. and in foreign countries to the applications for these inhibitors developed at Johns Hopkins University by their inventors Drs. Saeed Khan, Gurulingappa Hallur, Manuel Hidalgo and Antonio Jimeno.
For more information regarding Champions Biotechnology’s growing business and recent news, please visit www.championsbiotechnology.com.
About Champions Biotechnology, Inc.
Champions Biotechnology, Inc. is engaged in the development of advanced preclinical platforms and predictive tumor specific data to enhance and accelerate the value of oncology drugs. The Company’s Preclinical Platform is a novel approach based upon the implantation of primary human tumors in immune deficient mice followed by propagation of the resulting xenografts (Biomerk Tumorgrafts(TM)) in a manner that preserves the biological characteristics of the original human tumor. The Company believes that these Tumorgrafts closely reflect human cancer biology and their response to drugs is more predictive of clinical outcomes in cancer patients.
Champions Biotechnology leverages its preclinical platform to evaluate drug candidates and to develop a portfolio of novel therapeutic candidates through pre-clinical trials. As drugs progress through this early stage of development, the Company plans to sell, partner or license them to pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology companies, as appropriate. The Company also offers its predictive preclinical platform and tumor specific data to physicians for personalized patient care and to companies for evaluation of oncology drugs and drug candidates in models that integrate prognostic testing with biomarker discovery.
Champions Biotechnology is dedicated to enhancing preclinical development tools, accelerating development and valuation of oncology drugs, and advancing personalized treatment with a goal to improve the lives of cancer patients globally.
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995) that inherently involve risk and uncertainties. Champions Biotechnology generally uses words such as “believe,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. One should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements for many unforeseen factors. See Champions Biotechnology’s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2007 for a discussion of such risks, uncertainties and other factors. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, they relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made, and Champions Biotechnology’s future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements may not meet these expectations. The Company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in Champions Biotechnology’s expectations, except as required by law.
CHAMPIONS BIOTECHNOLOGY, INC. WEB SITE: www.championsbiotechnology.com
CONTACT: James Martell of Champions Biotechnology, +1-410-630-1313
