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Biotech / Medical : Techniclone (TCLN) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Terry D. who wrote (3591)	7/8/2000 4:51:04 PM
From: Terry D.	Respond to of 3702

Cornell University Scientists Present Results on Bzl Biologics Prostate Cancer Antibodies at America NEW YORK, May 1, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- BZL Biologics Inc. todayannounced that scientists from Cornell University Medical Center reported at theannual American Urological Association Meeting that a new monoclonal antibody toprostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) produced very substantial anti-canceractivity in animal models of human prostate cancer, and, in a parallel clinicaltrial in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer, the antibody (called"J591") was able to effectively target disseminated tumor sites throughout thebody while avoiding targeting of normal tissues. BZL holds the exclusiveworldwide license to this technology from Cornell University. According to Dr. Neil Bander, the Bernard and Josephine Chaus Professor andDirector of the Laboratory of Urological Oncology at Cornell University MedicalCenter, "PSMA is the single most well-established, prostate restricted, cellsurface molecule known. PSMA is present on virtually every prostate cancer andthe relative amount of PSMA increases as prostate cancers become more virulent.Hormone refractory cancers express the highest levels of PSMA. For thesereasons, PSMA is widely considered an ideal target for molecularly focusedtherapeutic strategies." The studies reported yesterday and today utilized recently generated antibodiesto PSMA that were specifically designed to target that part of the PSMA moleculethat is present on the exterior of the cell membrane. In previously publishedstudies, these antibodies demonstrated substantially improved ability to bind toliving cancer cells than earlier antibodies to PSMA. Further, in a previouspublication, the Cornell group demonstrated that after J591 binding to PSMA, theantibody is transported into the targeted cell. In the study presented Sunday by Dr. Daniel Yao and colleagues at Cornell,animal models with human prostate cancers began treatment after thewell-established and growing tumors had reached approximately 5% of the animalsbody weight. This setting represents a tumor burden far larger than seen inpatients. The animals were treated with the J591 antibody to which had beenattached different drug preparations. One preparation utilized consisted of amaytansinoid drug ("DM-1") prepared in collaboration with ImmunoGen Inc.(Nasdaq: IMGN). Animals treated with the drug-antibody conjugate had completeregression of their large tumors. In some studies, animals were followed forseveral months without relapse. Control animals which either received notreatment or an "irrelevant" antibody or, which had PSMA-negative tumors,experienced continued, progressive tumor cancer growth. Similar results havebeen obtained with the J591 antibody carrying other cytotoxic drugs. Results of a parallel clinical trial were presented today. In a Phase I trial,33 patients with advanced hormone-refractory prostate cancer were enrolled tostudy the targeting of the J591 antibody. Patients received a single dose ofantibody ranging from 0.5 to 250 mg that had been tagged with a radioactivetracer. The patients were imaged every other day for a week to track theantibody. Excellent localization to both bone and soft tissue metastaticprostate cancer sites was demonstrated in approximately 80% of the patients.Ability to localize to metastatic bone sites is particularly important andrelevant as this is the predominant site of prostate cancer spread and bonesites were not well targeted by prior antibodies to PSMA that targetintracellular portions of the molecule. According to Dennis I. Goldberg, President and CEO of BZL Biologics, Inc., "themurine antibody has been de-immunized by Biovation Limited (UK) whilemaintaining identical specificity and high affinity to PSMA. The de-immunizedantibody has been given to 1 patient under a single patient (compassionate) IND.This experience demonstrated excellent targeting and the antibody was notimmunogenic after 12 doses over a six month treatment course. Adequatequantities of GMP material are in the final stages of production and willsupport extensive testing of the de-immunized antibody in patient trials thatwill begin by the end of the year." "Several laboratories have now published studies indicating that PSMA is alsoexpressed on the vasculature of virtually all malignancies despite its absencefrom normal blood vessels. This finding may allow much broader application ofthe PSMA antibody approach, beyond prostate cancer, to include othermalignancies as well," stated Dr Bander. Further clinical trials of the murine J591 antibody in both prostate cancer andnon-prostate cancers have been approved by the New York PresbyterianHospital-Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center inNew York. These studies are expected to begin patient accrual within severalweeks. Trials with the de-immunized antibody to PSMA in prostate cancer arecurrently approved at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell Medical Center andsimilarly are anticipated to open within several weeks. BZL Biologics, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of BZL Biologics LLC, aprivately held, virtual drug development company dedicated to the developmentand commercialization of the J591 and related antibodies discovered by Dr.Banders research group and exclusively licensed from Cornell University. Contact: Dennis I. Goldberg, Ph.D. President and CEO BZL Biologics, Inc. 508-872-0433 e-mail: dgoldberg@newdruginc.comSOURCESOURCE BZL Biologics Inc.

To: Terry D. who wrote (3591)	7/8/2000 7:41:34 PM
From: EZLibra	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3702

Your R & D on the dd surpasses par excellence, as usual Terry. Thanx. I tried to talk about the potential impact of our VTA technology on SI over two years ago but was shushed by a call from Tustin. The key enabling patent to the whole shebang wasn't issued until January this year and at the time they were wary of a possible interference proceeding. IMO Techniclone's VTA platform is bigger than all the Entremed's rolled together. Again in March I was gushing over VTA (SI March 10..."VTA licensing is just beginning and I fully expect 40-60 licenses over the next year or so.") I'm glad to see fellow elegant science/downtrodden biotech CYTO is in license negotiations as well as the three Big Pharma. When the first Major licenses the VTA technology I predict they all will, or face the consequences (you hear that Imclone?). Looks to me like BMY is coming at us through the OxiGene JV and JB himself. Thanks again for the dd, Terry, but I think you will be even busier. I think a proper trail on the TCLN VTA technology is likely to spread across the entire cancer therapeutics spectrum. Cotara anyone?