Tuesday June 20, 9:49 am Eastern Time
Procyon BioPharma Technology Offers Potential Improvement in Measuring Progress of Prostate Cancer
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--Procyon BioPharma Inc. (``Procyon'') recently published a study in The Prostate Journal, (vol.2 (2): 94-101,
2000) indicating that one of its core technologies, PSP(94), could be one of the most effective prognostic tests yet available to
improve the medical community's ability to monitor and predict the speed with which prostate cancer progresses in patients.
Prostate cancer is currently North America's most common form of cancer in males and the second leading cause of death from
cancer in men. The National Cancer Institute of Canada estimates that one in nine men will develop prostate cancer at some time in
their lives.
The methods currently available to identify those at risk of prostate cancer are widely recognized as inadequate for prognostic
purposes. As a result, many unnecessary surgical treatments are performed, often having severe side effects such as incontinence
and impotence.
More Effective Prognostic Test Than PSA
``We are encouraged by the results of our findings which suggest that PSP(94) is a more effective means of predicting the progress
of prostate cancer than the widely used PSA (prostate specific antigen) test,'' said Hans. J. Mader, President and CEO of Procyon.
Current screening methods for prostate cancer include the digital rectal examination and the PSA test. Prognostic tests for prostate
cancer determine the aggressiveness or rate of progress of the disease and include measuring the size of the primary tumor upon
diagnosis and monitoring the rate of the increase of PSA levels over time. However, as a prognostic tool, the PSA test has
drawbacks. Prostate cancer is often identified in individuals who have not previously had a PSA test, making determination of the
rate of change of PSA impossible. In addition, hormone (anti-androgen) treatment of prostate cancer causes changes in PSA levels,
invalidating this test as an effective prognostic indicator during this type of treatment.
Procyon's research has established that PSP94 exists in both a free and bound form (bound to large proteins) in the blood similar to
PSA. Unlike PSA, however, the presence of PSP(94) is independent of hormones. As a result, the levels of PSP(94) in the blood are
not affected by androgens or anti-androgens which means that the measurement of PSP(94) levels may have the potential to monitor
the progress of prostate cancer during anti-androgen therapy.
The Company's study entitled, PSP(94): Evaluation of prognostic utility in patients with radiotherapy for nonmetastatic prostate
cancer, found that the ratio between bound and free PSP(94) in the blood after radiotherapy treatment, was a stronger indicator of a
relapse of prostate cancer than pre-treatment PSA levels.
While the main focus of the Company is on the development of PSP(94) as a therapeutic treatment for patients refractory to
hormone ablation therapy, Procyon's research into the prognostic and diagnostic applications of PSP(94) will complement its
therapeutic program and provide additional opportunities for the role of PSP94 in the survival of prostate cancer patients.
Procyon BioPharma Inc. is a publicly listed, biopharmaceutical company focused principally on advancing two powerful platform
technologies that have the potential to diagnose and treat cancer. Procyon's Antinuclear Autoantibodies (ANAs) bind specifically to
multiple cancer cell types strongly enhancing the immune response to cancer cells. Prostate Secretory Protein (PSP(94)) is a
naturally occurring human protein that has the potential to treat prostate cancer by inhibiting abnormal prostate cell growth. In
addition, the estimation of PSP(94) levels in prostate cancer patients may have prognostic and diagnostic applications. Procyon also
has two late-stage products: FIBROSTAT(TM), a topical cream for the management of newly formed scars following surgery or burns
and COLOPATH(TM), a rapid, non-invasive screening test for colorectal cancer.
Procyon's shares trade on the CDNX under the ticker symbol, PBP. The Canadian Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not
accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. |
