To tread - good news for Stressgen.
Anyone have any comments on how this news should be evaluated?
VICTORIA, British Columbia - StressGen/Genzyme LLC announced today that
new research studies conducted at the National Heart and Lung Institute in
the UK confirm the ability of the Company's gene therapy technology to
fight cancer. The studies, conducted in mouse models, show a 90% survival
rate, of more than six months, in the study group treated with stress
protein genes. In comparison, control animals receiving another foreign
molecule, b-gal, survived an average of 35 days. The untreated group
survived an average of 17 days.
The new findings were presented last weekend in Berlin, Germany at the
Third European Conference on Gene Therapy of Cancer by Dr. Katalin Lukacs,
a co-inventor of the stress gene therapy approach.
StressGen/Genzyme LLC, the recently announced joint venture company formed
by StressGen Biotechnologies Corp., and Genzyme Molecular Oncology, a
division of Genzyme Corp. of Cambridge, Mass., licensed this technology for
use in the development of cancer therapies.
The study was performed in a model of malignant mesothelioma, a fatal
tumour often seen in patients after exposure to asbestos. The mouse model
used in these experiments is very similar to human mesothelioma. The
results of Dr. Lukacs' work showed three administrations of the
liposome-complexed stress protein-65 gene (hsp65) were highly effective
with 19 of 21 of the treated population alive six months after tumour
initiation. These animals continue to be monitored.
This survival data builds on earlier work by Dr. Lukacs and her team. In
the April issue of Gene Therapy they published research that showed gene
therapy technology can significantly regress tumours. They concluded that
hsp65 could be an effective treatment in late stage cancer. Stress gene
therapy technology was invented by Dr. Lukacs and Dr. Jo Colston of the
Medical Research Council in the UK.
Commenting on the latest results, StressGen Biotechnologies Corp.'s
President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard M. Glickman said the study
provides valuable information about the potential of stress gene therapy.
"Dr. Lukacs' work is important as it further supports the belief that
stress proteins may play an important role in unmasking cancer cells so
that the immune system can see and attack them. Dr. Lukacs suggests hsp65
acts as a chaperone, working inside the cell to help process tumour
antigens so that they can be transported to the cell surface and seen by
the immune system. The increased presentation of tumour antigens on the
cell surface is likely through MHC molecules. We know that antigen
presentation by MHC molecules is crucial to immune recognition. If we can
unmask cancer cells and make them easier for the immune system to identify,
we will have a very powerful technology."
The joint venture is using stress gene therapy to stimulate the body's
immune system to fight cancer. This technology has the potential for wide
application in the treatment of various types of cancer. Gene therapy is
the introduction of a healthy or altered gene into the body to stimulate a
particular response. The joint venture combines StressGen's proprietary
approach for using stress protein genes to trigger the body's immune system
to fight cancer with Genzyme's gene therapy vectors to deliver the
therapeutic genes to cancer cells. The Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund,
of London, Ontario has contributed $10 million in initial financing.
Genzyme Corp., a biotechnology and health care products company, focuses on
developing innovative products and services for major unmet medical needs.
Genzyme Molecular Oncology develops molecular approaches to cancer
diagnosis and therapy through genomics, gene therapy, genetic diagnostics,
and a small-molecule combinatorial chemistry drug discovery program.
Genzyme Molecular Oncology has its own common stock, which is not yet
publicly traded, intended to reflect its value and track its performance.
StressGen Biotechnologies Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company
engaged in the research and development of stress proteins and stress
protein genes for use in cancer treatments and vaccines to prevent
infectious disease. The Company is also an international leader in the
development, manufacture and sale of stress protein research biochemicals. |
