AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the publication of preclinical data relating to its oncolytic virus program in Cancer Research. The publication reports the efficacy and safety of Introgen’s lead oncolytic viral product INGN 007 (VRX 007) in a unique animal model that more appropriately reflects the biology and immunology of human cancers. The study was performed by Introgen’s collaborators at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine and VirRx, Inc.
“Our oncolytic viruses, engineered to have greater tumor killing activity than other oncolytic adenoviruses that have caused tumor remissions in previous clinical trials, have shown significant promise in preclinical studies as a cancer therapy,” said Louis Zumstein, Ph.D., Introgen’s associate vice president of Research. “The field of oncolytic adenovirus therapy has been hampered by the lack of a relevant animal model. The development of this novel model in which to evaluate oncolytic adenoviruses is a boost to the field, and provides us with the means to increase efficiency in translating compelling preclinical data with our oncolytic viruses to prepare for future clinical activities.”
The researchers developed a Syrian hamster model that reflects the activity of the human immune system and also permits replication of oncolytic viruses in normal and tumor hamster cells. Injection of the oncolytic virus INGN 007 (VRX 007) suppressed primary and metastatic tumors and did not result in unusual toxicity, confirming their safety. In this model, INGN-007 was shown to be efficacious against three different types of aggressive tumors.
“This unique model allows us for the first time, to study the safety and efficacy of oncolytic viruses in a single system,” said William S.M. Wold, Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine and founder and chief executive officer of VirRx. “This is an important advance that should facilitate the evaluation of oncolytic viruses as potential therapies for a variety of cancers. The data obtained with INGN 007 in this system will support the initiation of clinical trials with this promising cancer treatment.”
About Introgen’s Oncolytic Viruses
Introgen has licensed rights to a portfolio of oncolytic viruses and other related technologies from VirRx, Inc. This portfolio includes a series of replication competent adenovirus vectors that over-express an adenoviral gene (ADP gene), a gene that causes rapid destruction of cancer cells through the replication and release of new viral particles. This release kills the cell, and also yields a pool of new viral particles capable of infecting additional cells within the tumor.
About Introgen Therapeutics, Inc.
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.
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 INGN 007 in the treatment of cancer or other diseases. 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., +1-512-708-9310Ext. 322, or c.burke@introgen.com
Web site: http://www.introgen.com/
