Rick, you're no fan of BLSI (if I recall correctly), but don't you think the following new platform technology sounds exciting? The stock price (which seems to have been hammered by tax loss selling) responded spritely to the news. If, as I believe, we are at the beginning of a reversal of a downward trend that started last March, this may be a good point to get on board for a profitable ride.
biz.yahoo.com
Boston Life Sciences' Antigen-Targeting Protein
Suppresses Solid Tumors in Animals
Monoclonal Antibody-Related Fusion Toxin Achieves 80% Suppression of Tumor Growth
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 11, 2000-- Boston Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLSI - news) announced that its
anti-cancer fusion toxin licensed from Hebrew University in Jerusalem significantly inhibited experimental colon cancer growth in
a well-recognized animal model. The fusion toxin, comprised of an antigen-specific targeting molecule coupled to a
bacterial-derived cell killing toxin, is similar in concept to a monoclonal antibody (Mab) in that it targets a specific antigen
present on a tumor cell's surface. In the case of BLSI's fusion toxin, the targeting molecule is an analogue of
Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone (GnRH) that specifically targets and binds to the GnRH receptors that are present on
approximately 70% of adenocarcinomas. Adenocarcinomas account for approximately 70% of all solid tumors, including those
of the colon, prostate and breast. Following internalization by the tumor cell of the GnRH analogue, the bacterial toxin attached
to the GnRH targeting molecule is released into the cancer cell, resulting in cell death. The targeting and cell killing ability of the
fusion toxin appears to be, at the very least, as efficient as that achieved by highly specific monoclonal antibodies, the Company
said.
In this model designed to simulate very rapid cancer growth, human colon cancer cells were injected into nude mice and, after 5
days to allow for the cells to develop into a solid tumor, the mice were treated with the GnRH fusion toxin 4 times per week for
10 days. There was no apparent undesirable toxicity seen in any of the animals. After 18 days of growth, the tumors were
removed and measured. The growth of the tumors in treated animals was suppressed approximately 80% compared to the
growth of tumors in the control animals.
``As far as we know, this is the first potential broad-based targeting approach to treating adenocarcinomas, a class that
represents the largest segment of solid tumors, and which also have been extremely resistant to therapy,' stated Dr. Marc
Lanser, Chief Scientific Officer of BLSI. ``Using the strategy of specific targeting based on the concepts of monoclonal
antibody technology, our collaborating scientists constructed a fusion toxin that could target its `antigen' with the same
specificity as Mabs, and could apparently kill targeted cells even more efficiently than Mabs. The key to this success was the
discovery by the Hebrew University scientific team that the majority of adenocarcinomas express receptors for GnRH, and that
these adenocarcinomas could be effectively targeted and killed using a GnRH-based fusion toxin, as described and published in
the Journal of Biological Chemistry, 272;11597-11603;1997.'
``It is well worth noting that this particular antigen, present on most adenocarcinomas, appears to be much more widely
expressed than some of the other antigens that have been used to develop effective Mabs. Therefore, based on the initial
clinical success of both monoclonal antibodies and other fusion toxins, several of which have been approved and effectively
launched, plus the widespread expression of the GnRH receptor on a variety of major adenocarcinomas, we have high hopes
for the clinical efficacy of our own fusion toxin for the treatment of this broad segment of cancer.'
``We are also particularly excited about the potential for synergy with our anti-angiogenic product Troponin I, since
anti-angiogenic therapy seems to synergize well with cytotoxic therapy. While these two different approaches to tumor inhibition
are each predicated on their own method of action, yet seem to compliment one another in overall suppression of metastatic
growth, their potential combined effect offers the prospect of a very powerful therapeutic strategy to combat disease
progression,' added Dr. Lanser.
BLSI is developing novel treatments for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and central nervous system disorders. In addition to
fusion toxins, BLSI's products in clinical trials or in preclinical development include: Altropane(TM), a radioimaging agent for
the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Troponin I, a naturally-occurring
anti-angiogenesis factor for the treatment of solid tumors; AF-1 and Inosine, nerve growth factors for the treatment of acute
and chronic CNS disorders; and transcription factors that may control the expression of molecules associated with autoimmune
disease and allergies.
Marc |
