19 December 2008, Sydney: Viralytics Limited (ASX: VLA) has received notice that publication of pre-clinical research data on the anti-cancer activity of its oncolytic virus candidate, EVATAK™ (Echovirus type 1), will occur shortly in the internationally acclaimed “Journal of Molecular Medicine”. The research was conducted by staff at the University of Newcastle on behalf of Viralytics.
The peer reviewed article entitled, “Regional administration of oncolytic Echovirus 1 as a novel therapy for the peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer” describes the positive oncolytic activity of EVATAK™ on laboratory cell cultures of human gastric (stomach) cancer and against gastric tumours grown in the peritoneal cavity (walls of the abdomen) of mice. The company will post an electronic link on its website to the published article when available online.
“The increasing data we’re generating from pre-clinical trials of EVATAKTM against human ovarian, prostate and gastric cancers makes it a significant addition to our product pipeline, second in line to our lead product CAVATAKTM,” said the Company’s Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Darren Shafren.
Earlier this year, Viralytics Limited received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent Office for its patent application covering the use of Echoviruses (including EVATAK™) for the treatment of all cancers (including gastric cancer) bearing expression of the integrin a2ß1. EVATAK™ is the trade name for Viralytics’ proprietary formulation of the Echovirus Type 1.
The US National Cancer Institute (NCI) predicts that 21,500 Americans will be diagnosed with gastric cancer in 2008 and 10,880 will die from the disease. Treatment is dependant on stage and extent of the stomach cancer. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
About Viralytics Ltd.
Viralytics is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX code: VLA), Viralytics ADR trades under VRACY on the OTC market in the USA. Viralytics’ principal asset is the intellectual property relating to CAVATAK™, an Oncolytic Virus technology. CAVATAK™ is the trade name for Viralytics’ proprietary formulation of the Coxsackievirus Type A21 (CVA21). EVATAK™ is the trade name for Viralytics’ proprietary formulation of the Echovirus Type 1 (EV1). CVA21 and EV1 are viruses that occur naturally in the community.CVA21 and EV1 attach to the outside of cells, using a specific ‘receptor’ on the cell’s surface (like a key fitting a lock). CVA21 uses the receptors, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and/or decay accelerating factor (DAF) to bind and infect target cells. Both of these receptor proteins have been demonstrated to be highly expressed on multiple cancer types, including: melanoma, prostate cancer, breast cancer, multiple myeloma and others. EV1 uses the receptor, integrin a2ß1 to bind and infect target cells. Integrin a2ß1 has been demonstrated to be highly expressed on multiple cancer types, including: prostate cancer, ovarian gastric cancer and others.
