Procyon's Novel ANA Technology Featured in Trends in Immunology Journal
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--Procyon BioPharma Inc. (``Procyon'') announced today that its research findings were published in the August issue of the
prestigious Trends in Immunology journal. The research review indicated that certain autoantibodies in the blood of healthy individuals, particularly
older people, may hold clues to the management and potential treatment of many cancers.
``Having our antinuclear autoantibodies (ANAs) research published in Trends in Immunology, one of the top-ranked monthly review journals in its
field, is an important achievement for Procyon,'' said Hans J. Mader, President and CEO of Procyon. ``Our ANA research platform represents a
potentially novel approach to the control and treatment of cancer. We are currently working towards moving our patented therapeutic ANA
monoclonal antibody, 2C5, forward to human clinical phase I studies next year,'' he added.
In collaboration with Dr. Vladimir Torchilin from Boston's Northeastern University and Dr. Zeev Estrov from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in
Houston, Procyon researchers examined occurrences of spontaneous cancer remission and cases of cancer where cancerous cells persisted for
years with no increase in the size of the tumor. The scientists discovered that some naturally occurring antibodies have been found to bind to a
variety of different types of cancer cells. In some individuals, particularly the elderly, these antibodies were found to be a type of antinuclear
autoantibodies which are non-pathogenic. This is significant in that most ANAs are pathogenic and are implicated in auto-immune disease, a
condition where the immune system's antibodies destroy the body.
Procyon's research has found that these non-pathogenic ANAs preferentially bind to cancer cells, and cause the cells to die via the immune
system. Other medical research has found that the mortality rate of cancer patients who also suffer from auto-immune disease is significantly lower
than in patients in general. This would suggest that the presence of circulating ANAs is associated with a slower progression of cancer and an
increased survival rate. A strategy involving supplementing antibody therapy or chemotherapy with ANA treatment would seem to be a novel way of
approaching cancer treatment. The Company is currently developing the 2C5 monoclonal antibody, which has the potential to serve this purpose.
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 non-pathogenic 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®, 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.
This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors
including, but not limited to, changing market conditions, successful and timely completion of clinical studies, uncertainties related to the regulatory
approval process, establishment of corporate alliances and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's filings.
« |
