NEWS WF 10 is back
DMX:TSX Dimethaid Research Inc - News Alert
Dimethaid announces new pancreatic cancer trial with WF10 - August 24, 2005 3:16PM ET
Pharmaceutical developer Dimethaid Research Inc. (TSX: DMX) today announced that it is commencing a Phase II trial of its immune modulator, WF10, as adjuvant treatment for pancreatic cancer. The study will be conducted at the European Pancreas Center of the University of Heidelberg Clinic for Surgery, Germany, by coordinating investigator Prof. Dr. Helmut Friess, Assistant Medical Director. Enrolment will include up to 43 patients with advanced, inoperable cancer who will also receive co-therapy with oral capecitabine.
In previous use, Dr. Friess administered WF10 to four patients, to supplement each individual treatment regimen. All four patients demonstrated a clinical response that exceeded the expected survival time and quality of life. Three of the four patients had metastatic disease with a predicted median survival of approximately six months with standard chemotherapy. Following various combinations of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in combination with WF10, they survived 12, 14 and 22 months, respectively. The fourth patient has locally-advanced disease, normally associated with a median survival of 6-10 months, and is still alive after 16 months.
"Pancreatic cancer is by no means the most common cancer but 85% of patients have inoperable disease at presentation and its poor prognosis makes it the fourth leading cause of cancer death. The Canadian Cancer Society reported over 3,300 deaths from this malignancy in 2004. Currently available treatments are not adequate", said Dr. Henrich Guntermann, President and CEO of Dimethaid. "These anecdotal clinical cases suggest very encouraging results and we look forward to formally studying the potential of WF10 for this indication."
Current concepts in cancer biology suggest that the inflammatory environment in the pancreas enhances signalling pathways of tumour growth factors and other chemokines. Treatment with WF10 has been shown in previous work to modulate the immune response by influencing the monocyte/macrophage system, natural killer cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes. It is proposed that this activity will exert an adjuvant anti-tumour effect resulting in increased survival and improved quality of life in patients with pancreatic cancer. A further rationale for combining WF10 and capecitabine is a potentially beneficial interaction between the two drugs within the cancer cells (data unpublished).
About the European Pancreas Center
The European Pancreas Center is one of the world's leading clinics for diseases of the pancreas. The purpose of the Center is to bring together knowledge and experience within an interdisciplinary team for best patient care. It participates extensively in national and international collaborative research and development projects. The Center conducts patient-focused clinical studies and basic research in pancreatic diseases in its search for more effective therapies.
About Dimethaid
Dimethaid Research Inc. is a publicly traded, Canadian pharmaceutical company headquartered in Markham, Ontario, with manufacturing facilities in Varennes, Québec and Wanzleben, Germany. The Company develops targeted therapeutic drugs designed to produce minimal side effects. Dimethaid's two technology platforms focus on transcellular drug delivery and immune system regulation. Products are aimed at expanding treatment options in rheumatology, dermatology, oncology, immunology, and the therapeutic management of chronic viral infections. For more information, please visit www.dimethaid.com.
This release may contain forward-looking statements, subject to risks and uncertainties beyond management's control. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed here. Risk factors are discussed in the Company's annual information form filed with the securities commissions in each of the provinces of Canada. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise forward-looking statements in light of future events.
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SOURCE: Dimethaid Research Inc. |
