Message #57 From:
Stock News Bot Date: November 21, 2006 06:25:00 AM
MCET News Multicell Technologies Demonstrates Drug Candidate's Powerful Tumor-Destroying Capabilities for Virally Induced Cancers such as Cervical Cancer
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:MCET), developing first-in-class
drugs based on advanced immune system modulation and other proprietary
technologies, today announced that co-administration of MCT-465, a
Toll-like Receptor (TLR) agonist, with the Company’s
patented antigen presenting immunoglobulin therapeutic resulted in the
control of primary tumor growth, induced the immune system to completely
destroy the tumors, and ultimately prevented morbidity and mortality in
60 percent of treated animals.
MultiCell’s unique technology platforms,
designed to treat disease by modulation of the human immune system, may
have valuable application as a treatment for deadly diseases such as
cervical cancer and other cancers that are caused by viruses.
The method involves the loading of an antigen presenting cell with at
least one tumor associated T-cell epitope attached to an immunoglobulin
backbone to form an Ig-peptide molecule (“IgNP”)
followed by administration the IgNP in conjunction with MCT-465, a dsRNA
TLR agonist adjuvant therapeutic.
“We believe these experimental results
represent a potentially valuable breakthrough in cancer treatment.
Several cancers, such as cervical cancer, are induced by viruses, and
are able to overpower the immune system and spread throughout the body,”
said Dr. Stephen Chang, Chief Executive Officer of Multicell
Technologies. “We demonstrated conclusively
that co-administration of MCT-465 with a virus specific epitope grafted
to our patented antigen presenting immunoglobulin therapeutic (“IgNP”)
completely destroyed tumors and prevented mortality.”
MultiCell is an innovator in the science of modulating the human immune
system with unique platform technologies, focusing on the development of
breakthrough drugs to treat serious autoimmune diseases, including
multiple sclerosis and type-1 diabetes, as well as influenza. Currently,
the market for therapies that address these diseases is estimated at $8
billion worldwide. The new therapeutic combination further expands the
Company's potential therapeutic development targets to include cancer.
“Our work in this area was recently published
in the Journal of Immunology, and we have filed several patents covering
the technology,” noted Dr. Chang.
“The most exciting aspect of our work is we
administered MCT-465 and IgNP after the tumor had grown to a very
large size in the animal, and observed complete destruction of the tumor
by the animal’s immune system. We were able
to overcome cancer’s ability to hide from
detection by the immune system. We believe that the implications for
this work are far-reaching and could someday help treat the millions of
patients suffering from various cancers,”
said Dr. Chang.
About MultiCell Technologies, Inc.
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. is an integrated biopharmaceutical company
committed to the development of breakthrough therapeutics based on a
portfolio of therapeutic candidates and patented drug development
technology. MultiCell’s drug development
program is focused on modulation of the immune system.
MultiCell’s therapeutic pipeline includes
drug candidates some of which are in various advanced stages of human
clinical trials. These therapies include:
MCT-125 for the treatment of chronic fatigue in MS patients. MCT-125
completed a Phase II clinical trial and demonstrated significant
efficacy in reducing chronic fatigue in MS patients. There is no drug
specifically approved for the treatment of chronic fatigue in MS
patients anywhere in the world.
MCT-175 for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS. MCT-175, in
preclinical development for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS,
targets disease specific autoaggressive T-cells that destroy the
myelin sheath of nerve cells. MCT-175 successfully ameliorated the
disease in animal models.
MCT-275 for the treatment of type-1 diabetes. MCT-275, in preclinical
development, targets disease-specific autoaggressive T-cells that
destroy insulin producing cells in the pancreas. MCT-275 completely
reversed the type-1 diabetic phenotype and prolonged life in animal
models.
MCT-465 in an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of virus infection
and cancer. MCT-465 in preclinical studies successfully reduced
pulmonary influenza virus levels 1,000-fold in animal models, and has
demonstrated effectiveness in reducing virus levels of HIV and HCV in
animal models. MCT-465 in preclinical studies successfully eliminated
certain types of tumors in animal models.
The Company also holds unique cell-based technology for use in drug
discovery screening applications, and is a leading producer of the cell
lines needed by the biotechnology industry to develop new drugs and
therapeutics. For more information about MultiCell Technologies, please
visit http://www.multicelltech.com.
