MONTREAL, April 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (“ProMetic”) announced results of three compounds in preclinical studies for prostate and pancreatic cancer at the American Association for Cancer Research (“AACR”) Annual Meeting 2008 being held in San Diego this week.
Data on PBI-1737, PBI-0110 and PBI-1308 were presented in poster sessions as follows:
Dr. Mouna Lagroui, ProMetic’s Research Scientist, presented data on PBI-1737 in prostate cancer. Results demonstrated that PBI-1737 displayed significant antitumor activity in human prostate cancer both in vitro and in vivo. The in vivo study demonstrated a significant reduction in tumor volume both alone (p < 0.05) and in combination with cyclophosphamide (p < 0.01).
Dr. Lyne Gagnon, ProMetic’s Director of Research and Development, Biology, presented preclinical data on the PBI-0110 alone and in combination with gemcitabine in intradermal and orthotopic pancreatic cancer. The study showed that PBI-0110 alone significantly inhibited pancreatic tumor growth in mouse models by as much as 58 percent (p < 0.05) after 44 days. The study also demonstrated a dose dependent inhibition of tumor growth, with the 400mg/kg dose being the most effective, inhibiting growth by nearly 40 percent after 25 days (p < 0.05). Combination therapy of 100mg/kg PBI-0110 and gemcitabine demonstrated similar efficacy. Finally, the study demonstrated increased survival in mice that received the combination therapy of PBI-0110 200mg/kg and gemcitabine.
Finally, Dr. Brigitte Grouix, ProMetic research scientist, presented data on PBI-1308, which demonstrated a reduction of inflammation and cancer cell proliferation through inhibition of NF-kappaB in prostate cancer and inhibition of TNF-alpha, and inflammatory cytokine.
“We continue to be very proud of the progress our compounds are making in early-stage cancer research,” said Pierre Laurin, president and CEO of ProMetic Life Sciences, Inc. “We are assembling a broad pipeline of promising candidates for various cancers, which augments PBI-1402, our lead compound which has shown compelling human data for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia.”
About ProMetic Life Sciences Inc.
ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (www.prometic.com) is a biopharmaceutical company specialized in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of a variety of commercial applications derived from its proprietary Mimetic Ligand(TM) technology. This technology is used in large-scale purification of biologics and the elimination of pathogens. ProMetic is also active in therapeutic drug development with the mission to bring to market effective, innovative, lower cost, less toxic products for the treatment of hematology and cancer. Its drug discovery platform is focused on replacing complex, expensive proteins with synthetic “drug-like” protein mimetics. Headquartered in Montreal (Canada), ProMetic has R&D facilities in the U.K., the U.S. and Canada, manufacturing facilities in the U.K. and business development activities in the U.S., Europe, Asia and in the Middle-East.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements about ProMetic’s objectives, strategies and businesses that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are “forward-looking” because they are based on our current expectations about the markets we operate in and on various estimates and assumptions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks affect our business, or if our estimates or assumptions turn out to be inaccurate. Such risks and assumptions include, but are not limited to, ProMetic’s ability to develop, manufacture, and successfully commercialize value-added pharmaceutical products, the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the ability of ProMetic to take advantage of business opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes in economic conditions. You will find a more detailed assessment of the risks that could cause actual events or results to materially differ from our current expectations on page 21 of ProMetic’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2007, under the heading “Risk Factors”. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement even if new information becomes available, as a result of future events or for any other reason, unless required by applicable securities laws and regulations.
CONTACT: Company Inquiries: Pierre Laurin, President and CEO, ProMetic
Life Sciences Inc., (514) 341-2115, p.laurin@prometic.com; Anne Leduc,
Manager, Investor Relations & Communications, ProMetic Life Sciences Inc.,
(514) 341-2115, a.leduc@prometic.com; Dominic Sicotte, Echoes Financial
Network Inc., (514) 842-9551, dsicotte@echoesfinancial.com; Investor
Relations: Bruce Voss, Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, (310) 691-7100,
BVoss@lhai.com; Kim Golodetz, Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, (212)
838-3777, KGolodetz@lhai.com; Media Relations: Jules Abraham,
Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, (212) 838-3777, JAbraham@lhai.com
