Wednesday December 1, 1:20 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
The University of California At San Francisco to Evaluate Prostate Cancer System Developed by Celsion
COLUMBIA, Md.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 1, 1999--Celsion Corp. (OTC BB:CELN - news) today announced that it initiated a sponsored research program with the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) for preclinical evaluation of Celsion's focused heat prostate cancer treatment system.
UCSF scientists will conduct preclinical studies of Celsion's prostate cancer treatment system using focused heat in conjunction with radiation seed implant therapy.
If the UCSF studies are successful, the Company plans to apply to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval to begin human clinical trials in order to obtain the safety and efficacy data necessary to apply for FDA Premarket Approval (PMA). The PMA approval will enable Celsion to proceed with commercialization in the $6 billion prostate cancer treatment market in the U.S.
''Current clinical protocols for prostate cancer commonly involve the use of radiation therapy,'' said Dr. Mack Roach, III, associate professor of radiation therapy at UCSF. ''It is well known that thermotherapy can increase the effectiveness of radiation by a factor of up to two times, provided that the heat delivered by the thermotherapy device reaches the cancer cells.''
Dr. Augustine Cheung, chairman and chief scientific officer of Celsion, stated, ''The successful demonstration of our new prostate cancer treatment system would significantly expand the use of our microwave focused heat technology.''
Celsion Corporation is a research and development company dedicated to commercializing medical treatment systems for cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia using focused heat delivered by patented microwave technology. Clinicals and further development of the Company's treatment systems are being conducted by leading institutions such as the Columbia Hospital (a Columbia/HCA Healthcare member), Duke University, Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Montefiore Medical Center and UCSF.
Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the ''safe harbor'' provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, possible changes in cost of materials, expense items, capital expenditures, capital structure, and other financial items; introduction of new products and possible acquisitions of assets or businesses; possible actions by customers, suppliers, competitors, regulatory authorities; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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