The Company also announced that a copy of the corporate slide presentation, highlighting the affairs of the Company, which shall be presented at the Annual J.P. Morgan H&Q Conference held on January 11, 2001, will be available via live, audio web-cast at www.jpmhq.com/events, at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time and can also be found on the Company's website (www.vionpharm.com), at approximately 8:45 a.m. Pacific Time on January 11, 2001.
TAPET SECOND GENERATION ARMED VECTORS
Vion scientists have "armed" the base bacterial vector VNP20009 by inserting avariety of genes for various anticancer therapeutic agents into the vector. As aresult of this extensive effort, a lead candidate for the first clinical armedvector, VNP20009 containing the enzyme cytosine deaminase (TAPET-CD), hasemerged. The enzyme can convert the systemically administered drug,5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), an agent with minimal toxicity, into the anticanceragent, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In preclinical models, TAPET bacteria containingthe CD enzyme accumulate and specifically convert 5-FC to 5-FU within the tumortissue, and cause antitumor effects superior to the TAPET bacteria alone. Vionintends to initiate a clinical trial of TAPET-CD by intratumoral administrationthis year, and by intravenous administration pending completion of the IV trialsof the base vector.
Commenting on the results, Alan Kessman, president and CEO of Vion, stated, "The results to date of the Phase I trials of VNP20009 are very promising. Thelengthy residence time of the bacteria within solid tumors in patients provides compelling evidence for TAPET's potential in delivering gene-based anticancer agents. We are proceeding ahead to begin studies of the first armed TAPET vector via intratumoral administration, which, if effective, would serve a subset of cancer patients in which local therapies are most appropriate. Although ourPhase I trials of the base vector by intravenous administration are not yetcomplete, we view the initial data as very encouraging. We have substantialconfidence that an optimized dose and schedule will produce results similar tothe animal models and thus provide effective systemic delivery of anti-cancerpeptides and proteins directly to disseminated solid tumors."
VION PHARMACEUTICALS INC
Form: 8-K Filing Date: 1/11/2001
Thanks for the link to the Dirtydozen.com
Jim |
