Another patent today:
PROCYON BIOPHARMA AWARDED U.S. PATENT FOR ITS
PSP94 TECHNOLOGY TO MEASURE PROGRESS OF
PROSTATE CANCER
MONTREAL, QUEBEC - Procyon BioPharma Inc. (“Procyon”)
today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 6,107,103
entitled “Assay for PSP94 Protein”. The patent includes claims
for a method of more accurately assessing the stage of
prostate cancer in patients as well as a method of general
screening for the presence of prostate cancer. The patent is
assigned to Procyon and covers the technology developed by
Procyon collaborators, Dr. Jim Xuan and Dr. Joseph Chin of the
London Health Science Centre and the University of Western
Ontario, London, Ontario.
“It is estimated that approximately 180,000 North American
males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and
approximately 37,000 will die from it,” said Hans Mader,
President and CEO of Procyon. “While early detection is
important for improving the chances of survival, assessing
how fast the cancer is progressing, is more significant than
the mere presence of cancer, as prostate cancer, in most
cases, is a very slow growing cancer. We believe the
technology covered in the issued patent allows us to assess
the stage of prostate cancer more accurately than present
methods on the market. Procyon is therefore determined to
complete the development of the assay for commercial usage
as soon as possible,” he said.
PSP94 (prostate secretory protein) is a naturally occurring
protein produced mainly in the prostate and secreted into the
seminal fluid, blood and urine. Recently Procyon announced
the impending publication of a study correlating the levels of
PSP94 in prostate tissue biopsy samples with stage and grade
of the cancer.
In addition to the diagnostic utility of PSP94, Procyon is also
developing the protein as a potential therapeutic for
treatment of late stage prostate cancer. The company
expects to commence human clinical trials with its lead
therapeutic candidate in early 2001.
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. In addition to the PSP94 technology Procyon’s
monoclonal antibody technology involves Antinuclear
Autoantibodies (ANAs) which bind specifically to multiple
cancer cell types strongly enhancing the immune response to
cancer cells. Procyon also has two late-stage products:
FIBROSTAT™, a topical cream for the management of newly
formed scars following surgery or burns and COLOPATH™, a
rapid, non-invasive screening test for colorectal cancer.
Procyon’s shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under
the ticker symbol, PBP. The TSE has not reviewed and does
not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
INFORMATION: Hans J. Mader
President and CEO
(514) 685-9283
E-mail: hmader@procyonbiopharma.com
Web site: www.procyonbiopharma.com
Nathalie Bourque
NATIONAL Public Relations
(514) 843-2309
Procyon Biopharma Inc. |
