Chrisco and all:
Here is the latest news release. Sounds interesting!!!
Attention News/Health Editors:
VASOGEN REPORTS SUCCESS IN THE TREATMENT OF PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE
TORONTO, May 5 /CNW/ - Vasogen Inc. (ME:VAS; OTCBB:VSOGF) is pleased to
announce the results of the Company's open study on patients with Peripheral
Arterial Occlusive Disease (PAOD) who had intermittent claudication (severe
leg muscle pain on walking). PAOD is a serious medical problem which, in a
significant proportion of patients, progresses to pain at rest, gangrene and
eventual lower limb amputation. On average, patients showed a clinical
improvement following VasoCare(TM) therapy as measured by an increase in their
walking distance. This successful outcome has justified the early termination
of the study and has positioned the Company to proceed immediately with the
multi-centre controlled trial necessary to gain physician adoption.
The study was directed by Dr. Roger Baird, Senior Vascular Surgeon at the
Bristol Royal Infirmary, University of Bristol, UK, and compared maximum
treadmill walking distances (MTWD) before, at the end of, and six weeks after
a course of VasoCare(TM) therapy. The eleven patients enrolled in the trial
all had significant PAOD with stable, persistent intermittent claudication.
The average pre-treatment MTWD which was 120.2 meters pre-therapy, increased
by 31.8% by the end of a three week course of VasoCare(TM) therapy, and by
65.8% at six weeks following therapy. No adverse events occurred that were
attributable to the therapy.
Dr. Baird stated: ``Based upon our extensive previous experience with
clinical trials in patients with peripheral vascular disease and intermittent
claudication, these results are very encouraging and warrant the early
termination of the open study and proceeding to a double-blind placebo
controlled trial.''
``I find two aspects of this study particularly exciting'', said Dr.
George deVeber, Vasogen's Medical Director. ``First, the average improvement
seen in these patients following VasoCare(TM) therapy continued to increase as
of the 6 week follow-up visit, in contrast to the effects of drugs which
require daily intake on a continual basis to maintain a therapeutic effect.
Second, although there was considerable improvement in the patient group as a
whole, two patients showed a marked improvement, increasing their walking
distance by over 500%. These results have paved the way for a multi-centre,
placebo-controlled, blinded study as a means of gaining physician acceptance
of VasoCare(TM) therapy for the treatment of this serious form of vascular
disease.''
The placebo-controlled, blinded trial now being planned will enroll up to
100 PAOD patients. This study will be carried out at two centers, the Bristol
Royal Infirmary, University of Bristol, U.K., directed by Dr. Roger Baird, and
at the Ninewells Hospital, University of Dundee, Scotland, directed by
Professor Jill Belch, a leading specialist in peripheral vascular diseases.
Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease is both a serious and common
medical problem. The disease has reached a prevalence of over 5% in the
general population between the ages of 50 and 70 and seriously affects over
40% of all diabetics. Of the estimated 200,000 amputations carried out
annually in North America and Europe as a result of PAOD, over half are in
diabetics.
Vasogen is a healthcare company dedicated to the research, development
and commercialization of VasoCare(TM) therapy for the treatment of vascular
disease - the leading cause of death and disability in the western world.
Results to date suggest that VasoCare(TM) therapy is effective, safe and well
tolerated - the profile actively sought after by healthcare companies today.
-0- 05/05/97
For further information: INVESTOR CONTACT: Trevor Burns, Director, Investor Relations, tel (416) 213-0126, ext 229, email investor(at)vasogen.com; MEDIA CONTACT: Kathleen Crowley - McLellan Group, tel (416) 597-2020
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