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 : progenics -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: keokalani'nui who wrote (59)	12/6/2001 6:15:01 AM
From: nigel bates	Respond to of 139

Progenics and Cytogen Report New Discoveries on Molecular Structure of Key Prostate Cancer Marker NAPLES, Fla., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The PSMA Development Company LLC, a joint venture of Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PGNX - news) and Cytogen Corporation (Nasdaq: CYTO - news), today announced new findings on the molecular structure of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which may have fundamental implications for development of PSMA-targeted cancer immunotherapies. Scientists from the joint venture reported for the first time that PSMA exists on human cancer cells as a homodimer, a protein complex consisting of two identical PSMA chains. The PSMA dimer is abundantly expressed on the surface of prostate cancer cells and is an attractive target for treatment with vaccines or monoclonal antibodies. The findings were presented today at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), New Discoveries - Prostate Cancer Biology and Treatment in Naples, FL. ``By discovering the dimeric structure of PSMA, the PSMA Development Company scientists are developing a clearer understanding of how to best exploit this molecule as a target for activating or augmenting the body's immune system to destroy prostate cancer cells,'' said Warren D. W. Heston, Ph.D., director of the research program in prostate cancer at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. ``It is particularly important to develop immunotherapies for recurrent prostate cancer, as this disease typically does not respond well to chemotherapy or radiation therapy.'' Using sophisticated molecular analysis techniques, scientists discovered that both naturally occurring and recombinant PSMA proteins form homodimers (molecules that have two identical subunits) under normal physiologic conditions. The dimeric PSMA was shown to possess enzymatic activity that may play a role in tumor progression. The PSMA Development Company is taking advantage of these proprietary findings in developing a portfolio of therapeutic product candidates designed to target PSMA, including viral vector and recombinant protein vaccines as well as fully human monoclonal antibodies. ``Today's results allow us for the first time to view PSMA in the form that is present on cancer cells and that is biologically active,'' said William C. Olson, Ph.D., vice president, research and development at Progenics and senior author of the presentation. ``These new findings are being incorporated into the PSMA Development Company's efforts to develop immunotherapies that are specific for PSMA-expressing cancer cells. These efforts are strengthened by our ability to produce abundant amounts of enzymatically active dimer by synthetic means. Our first product candidate, a recombinant subunit PSMA vaccine, is preparing to enter clinical trials in patients with recurrent prostate cancer.'' PSMA is a cell-surface protein that is abundantly expressed on prostate cancer cells at all stages of disease, including advanced or metastatic disease. The PSMA gene was first discovered by scientists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and is exclusively licensed to Cytogen Corporation, which has sublicensed it to the PSMA Development Company for in vivo immunotherapy. PSMA is also present at high levels on the newly formed blood vessels (neovasculature) needed for the growth and survival of many types of solid tumors. If PSMA-targeted therapies can destroy or prevent formation of these new blood vessels, the therapies may prove valuable in treating a broad range of cancers...