BLOOMFIELD, N.J., May 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alfacell Corporation today announced that Joram Slager, Ph.D., Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, Johns Hopkins University, presented new data on the effectiveness of AC 03-636, a novel ribonuclease drug candidate, against various brain tumor cell lines at the recent American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) meeting in San Francisco, CA. Dr. Slager’s presentation was entitled, ‘Toxicity and Efficacy of Amphinase, a Ribonuclease, Applied to Tumor Models in Vitro and in Vivo.’
Amphinases are a new group of proprietary ribonucleases discovered and patented by Alfacell. AC 03-636, the compound evaluated in this research, has demonstrated both anti-cancer and anti-viral activity in previous preclinical studies.
In this research, AC 03-636 was incorporated into a controlled-release, polyanhydride implant which allowed the drug to be delivered locally at the tumor site in the brain. The toxicity and efficacy of the formulation was then evaluated in experimental gliomas (brain tumors) in rats.
Treatment with the controlled-release AC 03-636 polymer formulation, when administered intracranially on the day of tumor implantation, significantly prolonged survival of rats, with a median survival of 21 days as compared to the control group, which had a median survival of 14 days (p = 0.023). Implanted polymers released 70% of the drug over 10 days, and generated minimal local or systemic toxicity. AC 03-636 controlled-release polymers were shown to be safe for CNS delivery and prolonged survival in the rodent 9L glioma model.
This research is one of several studies that show the strong potential of Alfacell’s RNases as a novel strategy in the fight against malignant brain tumors -- especially when administered locally in a time-release platform.
According to the American Brain Tumor Association, there are approximately 18,000 malignant gliomas diagnosed in the United States each year. Of these patients, 11,000-12,000 will undergo surgery for original or recurrent tumor removal. After diagnosis, patients with malignant gliomas typically live less than 12 months, even with the use of the most aggressive conventional treatment methods.
About Alfacell Corporation
Alfacell Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for cancer, using its proprietary RNase technology platform. ONCONASE(R) (ranpirnase), Alfacell’s lead investigational drug candidate, is currently being evaluated in several studies, including a Phase IIIb registration study for malignant mesothelioma (MM) and a Phase I / II trial in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). For more information, please visit www.alfacell.com.
This press release includes statements that may constitute “forward- looking” statements, usually containing the words “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “expect” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, uncertainties involved in transitioning from concept to product, uncertainties involving the ability of the Company to finance research and development activities, potential challenges to or violations of patents, uncertainties regarding the outcome of clinical trials, the Company’s ability to secure necessary approvals from regulatory agencies, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risks discussed in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.
Contact: Alfacell Corporation: Investor/Media Relations: Kuslima Shogen Elite Financial Communications Robert Love Dodi Handy (973) 748-8082 (407) 585-1080 info@alfacell.comacel@efcg.net
Alfacell Corporation
CONTACT: Kuslima Shogen or Robert Love of Alfacell Corporation,+1-973-748-8082, info@alfacell.com; or Investor/Media Relations: Dodi Handyof Elite Financial Communications, +1-407-585-1080, acel@efcg.net
Web site: http://www.alfacell.com//
