Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Biotech / Medical : Procept (PRCT): 50% rise on high volume. Why? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: goinbrk who wrote (430)	7/20/1999 6:13:00 PM
From: Douglas	Respond to of 455

If I read the press release correctly about the enteric coating, this has not gone to human trials yet. This gives Procept a lead, but I think Procept is going too slow! Procept should be starting a Phase II this year (hopefully in the 3rd quarter). The last news on Pro 2000 was in March (monkey story). If Procept is smart they will release more information on what is happening!

To: goinbrk who wrote (430)	7/20/1999 6:16:00 PM
From: Douglas	Respond to of 455

Enteric coating product inactivates HIV By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent WASHINGTON, Jul 20 (Reuters) -- A polymer used as an enteric coating on pills could offer a new avenue for preventing transmission of HIV, researchers said on Monday. They said the ingredient, cellulose acetate phthalate, kills not only HIV but also herpes virus and several types of bacteria that cause sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Formulated into a cream, it has no serious side effects, according to Dr. Robert Neurath, head of the Laboratory of Biochemical Virology at the New York Blood Center. The polymer is classified as an inert substance. ''We looked for something inexpensive, widely available, with possible broad activity,'' Neurath said in a telephone interview. ''We also suspected that other people probably never actually screened what are called inactive ingredients for activity, so we thought we would be the only ones doing it.'' They tested several hundred such compounds and finally they came upon cellulose acetate phthalate. Writing in the British journal Biologicals, published by the International Association of Biological Standardisation, they report that they formulated a cream containing the compound. In studies in mice, the cream killed viruses and bacteria that cause sexually transmitted diseases, but did not kill bacteria such as lactobacilli found normally in the vagina. Neurath's team assumes that it will inactivate sperm, although they did not test this. Other researchers are racing to get topical microbicides to market. One such product is PRO 2000, a naphthalene sulfonate polymer being developed by Procept Inc. (Nasdaq:PRCT - news) Another is a high molecular weight cellulose sulfate known as Ushercell, which Polydex Pharmaceuticals is studying. Neurath's team is working with the National Cancer Institute and other groups to develop the cellulose acetate phthalate cream.

To: goinbrk who wrote (430)	7/21/1999 1:16:00 AM
From: lizard lick	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 455

Good news,,Procept is way ahead of the game,,,they have already passed the animal testing and have completed trials on sexually inactive women,, key phase 2 is nearing soon and the real story will unfold. Look at the attached quotes down below from the latest news on neuraths team and you already see how far ahead prct is,,Take note of the reference to dual use referred to by neurath regarding a possible contraceptive. Prct has already witnessed the inactivation of sperm in tests,, neurath is still assuming. I guarantee you Procept will be fast approaching a 20 dollar stock next year this time. the Brazilian market alone has been stated at 1 billion,, the whole world ,, can you imagine that. Read the following excerpts from neurath first and then followed by prct results Neurath related press (In studies in mice, the cream killed viruses and bacteria that cause sexually transmitted diseases, but did not kill bacteria such as lactobacilli found normally in the vagina. Neurath's team assumes that it will inactivate sperm, although they did not test this.) PRCT related press Procept believes that its proprietary antimicrobial agent, PRO 2000, is ideally suited for use as a vaginal microbicide. PRO 2000 is a synthetic naphthalene sulfonate polymer of approximately 5,000 molecular weight. Its high water solubility and lack of color and odor make it well suited for topical use. Importantly, PRO 2000 Gel is straightforward to manufacture, allowing it to be produced for reasonable cost. It has also been shown to be highly stable, even under tropical conditions. Studies conducted by several independent laboratories have shown that PRO 2000 is active against HIV-1 and HIV-2 in vitro. Isolates from both the developed and developing world are neutralized with comparable potency, and all susceptible cell types are protected. Mechanistic studies indicate that PRO 2000 binds to the viral envelope on contact, thereby disrupting the initial binding and fusion steps of HIV infection. PRO 2000 is also active against other STD pathogens, including herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. PRO 2000 Gel was recently shown to protect monkeys from infection by an AIDS-causing virus. In a small study coordinated by the British Medical Research Council (MRC), intravaginal application of PRO 2000 Gel reduced the infection rate in female rhesus macaques exposed to a high dose of an HIV-like virus. Vaginally applied PRO 2000 Gel was also shown to protect mice completely from vaginal HSV-2 infection. These promising results offer hope that PRO 2000 Gel could protect women from both viruses. Interestingly, PRO 2000 Gel was also found to be contraceptive in rabbits. Surveys indicate that many women would prefer a product with both antimicrobial and contraceptive activity. Phase I clinical trials to assess the safety and tolerability of PRO 2000 Gel in healthy, sexually abstinent women were completed in 1997. The studies were conducted at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium and at St. Mary's Hospital in London, England, the latter with support from the MRC. Each double-blind study involved approximately 36 healthy female volunteers who administered either PRO 2000 Gel or a placebo gel intravaginally for up to two weeks. No serious adverse events were reported in either study, and the gels were considered safe and well tolerated. In addition, there was no evidence for systemic absorption of PRO 2000 following vaginal gel application. Importantly, PRO 2000 Gel did not cause microscopic inflammation, which might increase the risk of HIV infection. By contrast, a marketed nonoxynol-9 spermicide was found to cause microscopic inflammation in a similar study. Procept is now poised to initiate a second phase of clinical testing which will involve a larger and more diverse group of women. An expanded safety study is scheduled to begin shortly in the U.S. and South Africa, with support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed this trial to proceed following review of an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) filed by Procept. Additional clinical trials are also being discussed with the MRC. If warranted, a large clinical trial will be conducted to evaluate the safety and protective efficacy of PRO 2000 Gel in women at high risk for HIV infection. Procept believes that the product is well positioned to attract government support for this pivotal study. A recent article in the trade journal Scrip concluded that PRO 2000 Gel is the leading new microbicide in commercial development. In summary stick with it,, people will be drooling over procept next year and my friend i aint monkeying around.