(MEW) Vasogen Plans to Move VAS981 Into Clinical Trials in Leukemia
TORONTO, Dec 14, 1999 (BW HealthWire) -- Vasogen Inc.
(TSE:VAS.)(AMEX: MEW) today announced results of the final phase of the
Company's pre-clinical research in the prevention of Graft-versus-Host
Disease (GvHD). These results have supported regulatory submissions to
commence a clinical trial of its VAS981 cell processing technology in
the prevention of GvHD. GvHD is a potentially fatal complication of
bone marrow transplantation performed to treat leukemias and other
types of cancer that no longer respond to conventional therapy.
GvHD develops as part of an immune response that occurs when T cells,
given with the donated bone marrow (graft), identify cells in the
recipient's body (host) as foreign and reject them. GvHD causes
symptoms ranging from anorexia and severe vomiting to malabsorption and
liver dysfunction. The costs of treating the complications of GvHD
exceed $400 million annually.
Previously announced results from research conducted at the Division of
Cancer Biology Research, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, University
of Toronto, under the direction of Dr. David Spaner, demonstrated that
the treatment of donor immune cells with VAS981 prior to
transplantation prevented GvHD in animal models. Recently completed
research extended these studies to investigate the effects of VAS981 on
human immune cells that are administered in bone marrow grafts and
cause GvHD. The results showed that VAS981-treated cells produced much
lower levels of the inflammatory cytokines that are associated with
GvHD. The in vitro changes seen in these laboratory studies on human
cells closely mirrored those seen in vivo in the pre-clinical models,
where they were associated with a dramatic reduction in GvHD.
"Bone marrow transplantation is a potentially life-saving procedure for
many patients suffering from leukemia and lymphoma," said Dr. Spaner.
"Unfortunately, the success of bone marrow transplantation can be
compromised by GvHD. Overcoming this problem would represent a major
breakthrough in the treatment of cancer patients and could extend the
use of life-saving bone marrow transplantation to thousands more
patients each year."
Currently, over 30,000 bone marrow transplant procedures are performed
annually. Nearly half of those cancer patients who receive bone marrow
transplants develop GvHD. Although drugs that suppress the immune
system, such as cyclosporine, can help decrease the severity of this
problem, GvHD remains the major cause of death, either directly or
indirectly, in these patients.
Vasogen is focused on developing immune modulation therapies to advance
the treatment of cardiovascular, autoimmune and related inflammatory
diseases. These therapies are designed to target fundamental
disease-causing events, providing safe, effective treatment.
Statements contained in this press release, including those pertaining
to scientific and clinical research, commercialization plans, strategic
alliances, and intellectual property protection, other than statements
of historical fact, are forward-looking statements subject to a number
of uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from statements made. |
