NaPro Unveils Targeted Therapeutic Platform for Lung, Breast, and Other Cancers at AACR-NCI-EORTC Conference
19 Novembre 2003 - 2:42PM
PR Newswire (US)
NaPro Unveils Targeted Therapeutic Platform for Lung, Breast, and
Other Cancers at AACR-NCI-EORTC Conference Novel Cytotoxic-Linked
Peptide Ligand Selectively Destroys Tumors In Vitro BOULDER, Colo.,
Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Linkage of a tumor-specific
peptide with an established anticancer agent, paclitaxel, may be
the basis for a targeted highly specific anti-tumor therapy,
according to research announced today by scientists from NaPro
BioTherapeutics and the University of Alabama. The selective
tumor-specific conjugate appears to target a wide variety of
cancers expressing the specific peptide receptor. Initial findings
were presented at the annual AACR-NCI-EORTC International
Conference on Molecular Targeting and Cancer Therapeutics. "This
emerging platform combines the science and known cytotoxic
properties of taxanes, compounds with which NaPro has considerable
experience, with a proprietary peptide linkage/receptor specific
strategy," said Leonard Shaykin, Chairman and CEO of NaPro. "We
intend to begin clinical trials with at least one such compound in
2004." NaPro researchers are targeting the bombesin receptor,
common to a wide variety of tumor types. In vitro experiments have
determined that a specific paclitaxel-bombesin peptide ligand
(NBT-300) conjugate is able to deliver cytotoxic concentrations of
taxanes via the bombesin receptor into several specific cancer cell
lines, including breast, small cell lung, non-small cell lung, head
and neck squamous cell, pancreatic, prostate, and neuroblastoma.
"Our early studies demonstrate that, upon binding to its receptor,
our proprietary conjugate is specifically transported into these
cancer cell lines, cleaved, and the intracellularly released
paclitaxel destroys the tumor. Levels of cytotoxicity varied with
the level of bombesin receptor expression in each tumor line and
the paclitaxel concentration. The preliminary data are strongly
supportive of a peptide receptor-mediated approach for the
treatment of bombesin receptor expressing cancers. Potential
advantages may include a lower side effect profile for our
conjugate compound and a higher level of tumor 'kill' than an
equivalent non-conjugated cytotoxic," commented Lawrence Helson,
MD, Vice President, Bioresearch at NaPro. "We may also be able to
deliver a therapeutic dose to tumors by means of these conjugates
which heretofore, because of systemic toxicity, was not possible."
The presentation, "Receptor-based Targeting Strategy for Bombesin
Receptor-expressing Cancers," was co-authored by Dr. A. Safavy
(University of Alabama) and Drs. James McChesney, Sterling
Ainsworth, and Lawrence Helson (NaPro BioTherapeutics.) About NaPro
BioTherapeutics NaPro BioTherapeutics, Inc., is a life science
company focused on the development of targeted therapies for the
treatment of cancer and hereditary disease. Forward Looking
Statements The statements in this news release that are not
historical facts are forward-looking statements that represent
management's beliefs and assumptions as of the date of this news
release, based on currently available information. Forward-looking
statements can be identified by the use of words such as
"believes," "intends," "estimates," "may," "will," "should,"
"anticipated," "expected" or comparable terminology or by
discussions of strategy. Although the Company believes that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, it cannot assure that these expectations will prove to
be correct. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties
including: risks associated with development of the genomics, gene
editing and targeted businesses, including competition from
companies in similar businesses, limitations on the ability to
market products because of the intellectual property rights of
third parties, the ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patents;
the risk that the transaction announced with Faulding
Pharmaceutical Co. may not close because it is not approved by
stockholders or otherwise or may be materially delayed; the costs
of continuing development of any or all of the Company's
development programs; the timing of when those programs will enter
the clinic; the successful commercialization of the Company's
platform technologies; the fact that the Company's business will
require substantial additional investment that the Company has not
secured; and the risk that the cash proceeds from the Faulding
transaction, if realized, will not be sufficient to fund the
Company's strategic plans for the initial development new
proprietary therapeutic candidates; and all of those factors
identified under the captions "Risk Factors," "Special Note
Regarding Forward Looking Statements" or "Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward Looking Statements" in the Company's documents filed from
time to time with the SEC, including the Company's registration
statement on Form S-3, as amended, dated August 8, 2003, its Annual
Report on Forms 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ending December 31,
2002 filed with the SEC on March 27, April 30, August 8 and October
24, 2003, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended July 2, 2003 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on August 8, 2003. Should one or more of these risks
materialize (or the consequences of such a development worsen), or
should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results
could differ materially from those forecasted or expected. The
Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or
revise such statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Additional Information In connection
with the proposed sale of assets to Faulding, NaPro has filed a
definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC). Investors and security holders are urged to read
the definitive proxy statement as it contains important information
about NaPro, the proposed transaction and related matters.
Investors and security holders have access to free copies of the
definitive proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC
by NaPro through the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov/. The
definitive proxy statement and related materials may also be
obtained for free from NaPro by calling the company contact listed
below. NaPro and its directors and executive officers may be deemed
to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection
with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons
who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered to be
participants in the solicitation of NaPro's stockholders in
connection with the proposed transaction is set forth in NaPro's
proxy statement for its 2003 annual meeting of stockholders, dated
May 23, 2003 and filed with the SEC on May 27, 2003. Additional
information is set forth in the definitive proxy statement on file
with the SEC related to the proposed sale of assets. For further
information, please contact L. Robert Cohen, Vice President,
Investor Relations of NaPro BioTherapeutics, Inc., +1-212-218-8715.
DATASOURCE: NaPro BioTherapeutics, Inc. CONTACT: L. Robert Cohen,
Vice President, Investor Relations of NaPro BioTherapeutics, Inc.,
+1-212-218-8715; or Investors, Lilian Stern of Stern Investor
Relations, +1-212-362-1200, for NaPro BioTherapeutics, Inc. Web
site: http://www.naprobio.com/
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