To all: Stressgen announces presentation of data on the mechanism for the immunotherapeutic activity of HspE7 at HPV 2002
Proprietary CoVal(TM) Fusion Technology Induces Both Arms of the Cellular Immune System
PARIS, FRANCE, Oct. 7 /CNW/ - Stressgen Biotechnologies Corporation (TSX:SSB) today will present new scientific data at the 20th International Papillomavirus Conference on the mechanism of action for HspE7, the Company's novel human papillomavirus (HPV)-specific immunotherapeutic. These preclinical data demonstrate that HspE7 takes advantage of a "pre-programmed" part of the immune system, known as innate immunity, an early warning system used to generally detect and fight infection. In turn, these early defensive cells send signals to the adaptive (antigen specific) immune system, such as T cells, which possess additional mechanisms to protect the body.
"The uniqueness of Stressgen's CoVal(TM) fusion technology is supported by the data presented here," said Marvin I. Siegel, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Stressgen. "In fact, these studies offer a glimpse at the potential efficacy of future novel CoVal(TM) fusion candidates under consideration by Stressgen for other viral diseases, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, herpes simplex and HIV."
Current studies demonstrate:
- Heat shock protein (Hsp) fusions ("CoVal(TM)" fusions) activate both forms of cellular immunity.
- The mechanism of action of CoVal(TM) fusions includes the direct stimulation of cells of the innate immune system.
- Activation of these cells leads to activation and amplification of cytotoxic T cells (CTLs or killer T cells, which specifically locate
and kill virally infected cells.
- This mechanism of action is dependent upon the presence of a specific receptor.
The current studies demonstrate that this unique mechanism of action of CoVal(TM) fusions can be observed in both in vitro and in vivo model systems. The in vitro data are in fact predictive of the in vivo activity. These results also provide further evidence that HspE7 stimulation of antigen- presenting cells of the innate immune system is critical to in vivo efficacy.
"The importance of these findings is that HspE7 is using a very powerful component of the body's immune system to achieve the kind of immunity needed to defend against HPV disease," said Lee Mizzen, Ph.D., Vice President of Scientific Affairs at Stressgen. "Two complementary and cooperative parts of the cellular immune system can be effectively harnessed by HspE7 to treat viral infection."
About Stressgen Biotechnologies Corporation
Stressgen, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative, proprietary CoVal(TM) fusion therapeutics for the treatment of infectious disease and cancer. HPV infection can cause genital warts, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, and a variety of cancerous and precancerous conditions including anal dysplasia, cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer. Stressgen, through its bioreagent business, is also an internationally recognized supplier of research products used by scientists worldwide for the study of cellular stress, apoptosis, oxidative stress and neurobiology.
In June 2002, Stressgen announced a Collaboration Agreement with Roche for the co-development and global commercialization of HspE7, Stressgen's lead product candidate for HPV-related diseases. HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, estimated to infect over 50 percent of the sexually active population. There are 5.5 million new cases of genital HPV infection diagnosed per year in the U.S. alone, including over one million cases of genital warts. In addition to genital warts and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, HPV infection can cause cervical cancer and a variety of precancerous conditions, including anal and cervical dysplasia.
The Company is a member of the S&P/TSX Composite Index and is publicly traded on the TSX Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol SSB.
About CoVal(TM) Fusions
Stressgen capitalizes upon the immunostimulatory powers of heat shock proteins utilizing recombinant technology to fuse, or covalently link, a stress protein with a protein antigen to create a single hybrid protein designed to trigger the immune system to recognize that antigen. For more information about our CoVal(TM) fusion technology, or Stressgen, please visit us at our website located at www.stressgen.com.
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Conference call on Oct 24 will discuss this also.
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