The focus of this round of testing, first announced on March 24, 2009, will be on the effect of PhG-alpha-1 on cancer cell growth rate, mobility and invasion characteristics, using a panel of nine ovarian cancer cell lines. Of the OHRI cell lines being tested, two are also included in the 60 cell line panel used at the National Cancer Institute (“NCI”) in Bethesda MD, (testing of the PharmaGap drug at the NCI has previously been announced). OHRI Researchers under the direction of Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden will assess the potency of PharmaGap’s drug compound both as a single agent therapeutic and in combination with the current standard of care chemotherapeutic drug used to treat ovarian cancer. Previous testing at PharmaGap and at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York has demonstrated that PhG-alpha-1 has been observed to provide superior effects when administered in combination with available chemotherapeutic agents. The broad range of ovarian cell lines at the OHRI expands the potential for positive results in the overall test program for PhG-alpha-1.
The drug compound provided to OHRI is from the second batch of compound produced by CS Bio of Menlo Park, CA, under contract with PharmaGap. Batch production of drug compound at CS Bio is continuing in order to ensure that the Company has a sufficient and consistent supply for all testing programs in the future.
“We are excited to see the test program at Dr. Vanderhyden’s lab begin, and are pleased that she and her research team have agreed to bring their expertise to bear in furthering our drug development program for PhG-alpha-1”, said Robert McInnis, President and C.E.O. of PharmaGap. “Combined with expected results from testing at the NCI and with all previous test programs completed, we hope to see conclusive, independently derived proof of efficacy for PhGalpha- 1 that will attract the attention of both the pharmaceutical industry and the investment community in Canada and the United States.”
The results of the test program at OHRI are expected to be available in the third quarter of 2009.
About the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
The OHRI is the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital and is an affiliated institute of the University of Ottawa. The OHRI is one of the largest hospital-based research institutes in Canada, with more than 1,400 researchers, trainees and support staff, $90 million in funding and thousands of patients involved in over 600 ongoing clinical research studies. For more information please visit www.ohri.ca.
About Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden
Dr. Vanderhyden is a Senior Scientist, Cancer Therapeutics at the OHRI and a Professor in the Departments of Cellular & Molecular Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Ottawa. She holds the Corinne Boyer Chair in Ovarian Cancer Research. She has published over 60 peer reviewed journal papers primarily in the area of ovarian cancer and collaborates extensively with many pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies focused on the development of therapies for ovarian cancer.
About PharmaGap Inc.
PharmaGap Inc. (TSX-V: GAP), based in Ottawa, ON, is a biotechnology company with a core focus on developing novel therapeutic compounds for the treatment of cancer. PharmaGap's research platform targets cellular signalling pathways controlled by Protein Kinase C (PKC) isoforms. PharmaGap's lead drug compound, PhG-alpha-1, is in preclinical development. The Company's strategy is to out-license drug compounds to larger life sciences companies at the preclinical stage. For more information on PharmaGap please visit the Company's website at www.pharmagap.com.