STUDY DEMONSTRATES VASOCARE(TM) THERAPY REDUCES DEVELOPMENT OF
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
AND LOWERS CHOLESTEROL
Researchers from the University of Toronto have announced results
from pre-clinical studies showing that Vasogen's immune
modulation therapy, VasoCare(TM), reduced the development of
atherosclerosis by up to 75 percent and showed a significant
cholesterol-lowering effect. The results were presented at the
Experimental Biology Meeting of the Federation of American
Societies of Experimental Biology (FASEB) in Washington, D.C.
Atherosclerosis is the build-up of cholesterol-containing plaque
within the blood vessel wall and is the major cause of
cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death and disability
in developed countries. Approximately half of all patients with
atherosclerosis also have elevated levels of blood lipids, such
as cholesterol and triglycerides, which are considered to be
major risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis. The
market for cholesterol-lowering drug therapies aimed at treating
this problem exceeds $5 billion annually in the US alone and is
growing at more than 20 percent per year.
The studies were performed in the LDL-receptor knockout
[LDL-R(-/-)] mouse, an accepted model of human atherosclerosis,
at St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada, under
the direction of Dr. Duncan Stewart, Head of the Division of
Cardiology. LDL-R(-/-) mice lack LDL cholesterol receptors and
are specially bred to mimic the status of patients with an
inherited type of high blood cholesterol, who are at a high risk
of suffering from heart attack and stroke at an early age. LDL-R
(-/-) mice rapidly develop severe atherosclerosis when fed a diet
rich in cholesterol and fat.
The results presented at FASEB showed that VasoCare(TM) therapy,
administered at the mid-point of an eight-week high-fat diet,
resulted in a significant reduction in the relative proportion of
atherosclerotic plaque in the aorta, the main artery leading from
the heart. The ratio of the atherosclerotic plaque area to the
total area of the aorta was reduced from 0.16(0.1 in untreated
animals, to 0.04(0.03 in animals receiving VasoCare(TM) therapy,
(p<0.05) - a reduction of 75 percent. This marked reduction in
development of atherosclerotic plaque was associated with highly
significant reductions in both the total cholesterol (34% -
p<0.00001) and triglyceride (51% - p<0.00001) levels in blood in
VasoCare(tm)-treated compared to untreated animals. At the same
time, there was no significant lowering of the blood levels of
HDL, a type of cholesterol that has been shown to inhibit
development of atherosclerosis.
"Our results indicate that VasoCare(TM) therapy can significantly
inhibit the development of atherosclerosis," said Dr. Stewart.
"The next step is to repeat our research in a second animal
species. If we have the same effect there, we would have a
powerful therapy that is active across different species. We
would then move to human studies, with a likely focus on coronary
heart disease."
Cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, strokes and
peripheral vascular disease, affects millions of people in North
America and Europe and costs health care systems in excess of
$300 billion annually. In the US alone, 12 million people are
affected by coronary heart disease, and a further four million
suffer from stroke. These conditions cause more than 500,000
deaths annually in North America.
Dr. Eldon Smith, Vasogen's Vice-President, Scientific Affairs,
said: "These results, if confirmed in humans, would constitute
a major breakthrough in the treatment and prevention of
atherosclerosis. Given VasoCare(TM) therapy's excellent profile,
it has the potential to offer an attractive therapeutic option to
current cholesterol-lowering therapies."
The Company's new research program in the area of atherosclerosis
is augmenting data currently being generated in an ongoing
placebo-controlled, clinical study in the United Kingdom in
peripheral vascular disease - a serious form of vascular disease
resulting from atherosclerosis that affects the arteries
supplying blood to the legs. These patients have a risk of heart
attack and stroke that is ten times greater than the general
population.
Vasogen is focused on developing immune modulation therapies to
advance the treatment of cardiovascular, autoimmune and related
inflammatory diseases. These therapies are designed to target
fundamental disease-causing events, providing safe, effective
treatment.
Statements contained in this press release, including those
pertaining to scientific and clinical research, commercialization
plans, strategic alliances, and intellectual property protection,
other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking
statements subject to a number of uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from statements made.
VASOGEN INC.
2155 Dunwin Drive, Suite 10
Mississauga, ON, Canada L5L 4M1
tel (905) 569-2265 fax (905) 569-9231
vasogen.com
INVESTOR CONTACT
Trevor Burns
Investor Relations
tel (905) 569-9065
e-mail investor@vasogen.com |
