(Applies to: BIOM)
ALTAREX RESEARCHERS PRESENT POSITIVE OVAREX(TM) MAB RESULTS IN OVARIAN
CANCER
Patients at ASCO Conference
- Retrospective Data Supported by Additional Mechanism of Action
Results
Presented at AACR -
ATLANTA, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- AltaRex Corp. (Toronto: AXO) today
presented further scientific analysis of data associated with
retrospective clinical results for an earlier formulation of its
ovarian cancer treatment OvaRex(TM) MAb. The study's researchers,
presenting at the 35th Annual Meeting of the American Society of
Clinical Oncology (ASCO), reported that the drug's mechanism of action
works to induce humoral and cellular immune responses specifically
against ovarian cancer cells. A statistical analysis of the study also
demonstrated a five-year survival rate of 40.7% in patients treated
with OvaRex(TM) MAb, compared to 11.4% in a historically matched
control group treated with chemotherapeutic agents widely-used at the
time of the study. OvaRex(TM) MAb is AltaRex's lead monoclonal
antibody (MAb) and is currently in potentially pivotal late stage
clinical trials in ovarian cancer patients.
"The unusually long survival rates for patients treated with OvaRex(TM)
MAb correlate with augmented tumor specific immune responses," said
Birgit Schultes, Ph.D., Director of Clinical Research. "In blood
samples taken from patients, we observed evidence of T cells directed
to destroying ovarian cancer cells. The xenotypic or foreign nature of
the antibody mobilizes a tumor specific immune response that previously
was suppressed in these patients."
This OvaRex(TM) MAb study was conducted at the University of Frankfurt
in Germany. In order to investigate the drug's mechanism of action,
immunologic responses were measured in blood samples from 100 patients.
Evidence of a humoral and cellular response to CA125, the ovarian
cancer tumor associated antigen (TAA) was observed following
administration of OvaRex(TM) MAb.
"Based on these encouraging data, AltaRex has initiated a broad range
of prospectively designed trials for the current formulation of
OvaRex(TM) MAb, including two potentially pivotal Phase IIb studies and
two open label Phase II studies. We are encouraged with the findings
from our open- label Vancouver study under the direction of Dr. Thomas
Ehlen, which has provided preliminary results consistent with the data
presented today in a comparable patient population," said Christopher
F. Nicodemus, M.D., Senior Vice President, Medical and Regulatory
Affairs.
"These data are an important validation of our approach, and we look
forward to a more extensive evaluation from our ongoing clinical
trials" said Richard Bagley, President and CEO, AltaRex.
Additional data on AltaRex's AIT(R) approach were presented recently at
the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) conference. These
data were a demonstration of xenotypic antibodies augmenting the immune
response in a second tumor antigen system.
"The AACR data presentation concerned a reverse experiment to test the
xenotypic antibody approach of AltaRex's technology in a mouse model.
In this particular instance the human antibody is foreign (xenotypic)
to the mouse just as a mouse antibody is foreign to a human.
Researchers conjugated our murine monoclonal antibody to a human
immunoglobulin to augment the anti-tumor response in mice," said Dr.
Schultes. "The human conjugate was more potent in mice than the mouse
antibody alone. This study, using the BrevaRex(TM) MAb antibody
against the MUC1 tumor associated antigen, validates OvaRex(TM) MAb and
the Company's anti-idiotype technology in a second system.
BrevaRex(TM) MAb is currently in Phase I clinical trials and has
potential application in MUC1 associated tumors such as prostate
cancer, multiple myeloma, and non- small cell lung cancer."
In the U.S. and Canada, approximately 27,000 new cases of ovarian
cancer are diagnosed every year with approximately 16,000 associated
deaths. Known as the 'Disease that Whispers', due to the mild nature
of the initial symptoms, ovarian cancer will develop in an estimated 1
in every 55 women. More than half of the women diagnosed with the
disease will die within 5 years; the estimated five-year survival for
those women diagnosed with late- stage ovarian cancer is only 20-25
percent.
AltaRex Corp. is an emerging biotechnology company focused on research,
development and commercialization of unique antibody-based
immunotherapeutics for the treatment of late-stage cancers. The
Company's products are based on its unique proprietary platform
technology, Anti-idiotype Induction Therapy ("AIT(R)"). The Company
believes that its AIT(R) technology enhances the ability of the human
immune system to produce its own anti-tumor response. AIT(R) products
are developed to target specific antigens that are associated with
various cancers. The Company's most advanced product, OvaRex(TM) MAb
for ovarian cancer, is in two potentially pivotal Phase IIb clinical
trials, while BrevaRex(TM) MAb is in a Phase I study.
Additional information about AltaRex and its clinical trials can be
found on its web site at www.altarex.com or on the CenterWatch web site
at www.centerwatch.com. Additional information about ovarian cancer
can be found at www.corrineboyerfund.org and at www.ovarian.org.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ
materially from the statements made. For this purpose, any statements
that are contained herein that are not statements of historical fact
may be deemed to be forward- looking statements. Without limiting the
foregoing, the words "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "intends",
"expects" and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited
to changing market conditions, completion of clinical trials, patient
enrollment rates, uncertainty of preclinical trial results, the
establishment of new corporate alliances, the timely development,
regulatory approval and market acceptance of the Company's products,
and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's filings
with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian
securities authorities. There can be no assurance as to the outcome of
the Company's litigation with Biomira Inc. or that the Company will
commence or complete its announced financing.
THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR
DISAPPROVED OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.
SOURCE AltaRex Corp.
-0- 05/18/99 /Contact: Edward M. Fitzgerald or
Glenn Neumann of AltaRex Corp., 781-672-0138, info@altarex.com or
Gretchen L. P. Schweitzer or Megan E. Burling of Feinstein Kean
Partners, 617-577-8110/
/AltaRex Corp. press releases available through Company News On-Call by
fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 128163, or at prnewswire.com
/Web site: corrineboyerfund.org /Web site:
ovarian.org
/Web site: centerwatch.com /Web site:
altarex.com |
