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.

Gold/Mining/Energy : Vasogen-- VAS on TSE -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: tnsaf who wrote (275)	9/15/2004 1:20:33 PM
From: tnsaf	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 377

Press Release Source: Vasogen Inc. Vasogen's Celacade(TM) Reduces Cardiac Inflammation in Preclinical Study Wednesday September 15, 9:00 am ET TORONTO, Sept. 15 /CNW/ - Vasogen Inc. (NASDAQ:VSGN - News; TSX:VAS - News), announced that preclinical results demonstrating the ability of Celacade(TM) (immune modulation therapy) to reduce heart muscle inflammation were presented yesterday at the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) meeting in Toronto. The research was conducted by Dr. Guillermo Torre-Amione, Katy Becker, Corinne Brann, and Dr. Douglas L. Mann from the Methodist DeBakey Heart Center and Winter's Center of Heart Failure Research at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. ADVERTISEMENT The research demonstrated that Celacade(TM) decreased both myocardial levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-a and inflammatory cellular infiltrates in heart tissue in a murine model of cardiac inflammation (myosin- induced myocarditis). Inflammatory cellular infiltrates were found in 57% of controls and in only 25% of animals treated with Celacade(TM). Furthermore, Celacade(TM) treatment resulted in a significant attenuation of TNF-a levels (p less than 0.001). Previous preclinical studies in other models of inflammatory disease have shown that, in addition to TNF-a, Celacade(TM) down- regulates a number of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increases levels of key anti-inflammatory cytokines. Inflammation mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL1-b, IFN-g and TNF-a, are implicated in the pathophysiology of myocarditis and heart failure, resulting in left ventricular dysfunction and remodeling. Modulation of the inflammatory events that occur in the pathogenesis of myocarditis represents a target for therapeutic intervention in patients with heart failure. "Our research provides new evidence of the ability of Celacade(TM) immune modulation therapy to attenuate inflammation in the heart," stated Guillermo Torre-Amione, MD, PhD, Medical Director of the Heart Transplant Service at the Methodist DeBakey Heart Center and Baylor College of Medicine and Principal Investigator for the U.S. arm of Vasogen's ongoing phase III ACCLAIM trial. "The key importance of this finding is that the anti-inflammatory effects of Celacade(TM) were focused at the tissue level within the myocardium, providing new insights into the mechanism of benefit of Celacade(TM) in heart failure." Vasogen is currently conducting the 2,000-patient pivotal phase III ACCLAIM trial in chronic heart failure patients, which is designed to support regulatory approvals and the commercial introduction of Celacade(TM) in North America and Europe. The ACCLAIM trial is based on the results from Vasogen's phase II trial, which were published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (Vol 44, Issue 6, pp. 1181-1186) and demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of death and hospitalization among advanced heart failure patients receiving Celacade(TM). ACCLAIM is designed to further evaluate the impact of Celacade(TM) on reducing mortality and morbidity in this patient population. James Young, MD, Chairman, Department of Medicine and Medical Director of the Kaufman Center for Heart Failure at The Cleveland Clinic, is the Chairman of the Steering Committee and Global Principal Investigator for the ACCLAIM trial.