Press
Release:
CYTOCHROMA ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT RESULTS WITH
CTA002, A VITAMIN D ANALOG AND ENZYME INHIBITOR, IN A PROSTATE
CANCER MODEL
Markham, Ontario, Canada — May
10, 2006 — Cytochroma
Inc. today announced that CTA002, a novel vitamin
D analog and inhibitor of the CYP24 enzyme, in combination
with a standard
cytotoxic agent, demonstrated potent anti-cancer activity in
a xenograft prostate model. Using the LNCaP prostate model,
Cytochroma was able to demonstrate a significant effect on
tumor suppression with CTA002 in combination with paclitaxel.
After one month, this combination resulted in tumor growth
suppression of 99% by the end of the treatment period compared
to 82% using paclitaxel alone.
More significant was the lasting
tumor-suppressing effects that were evident 28 days after
the treatment ended. Tumor growth suppression using the combination
of CTA002 and paclitaxel was maintained at 89% compared to
only 45% using paclitaxel alone. Equally encouraging was
the
observation that body weight continued to increase in the
combination treatment arm and the drug regimen was well-tolerated
with
none of the animals demonstrating any clinically observed
toxic side effects.
"We are pleased with the consistent tumor
suppressive effects that we observe with CTA002 in several
models in which this compound has been tested. With this
latest LNCaP model, CTA002 seems to exert a potent and lasting
inhibitory
effect on tumor growth as a single agent and also significantly
enhances the tumor suppressive effects of paclitaxel.” said
Martin Petkovich, Ph.D., Cytochroma’s CSO. “We
believe that several compounds we have developed, including
CTA002, will be effective treatments capable of enhancing
other standard chemotherapies. We have several xenograft
studies
currently underway to prove this hypothesis.”
About
CTA002
CTA002, also known as QW1624F2-2, is a novel
vitamin D analog
with a dual mechanism of action. It is a strong activator
of the vitamin D signaling pathway and also a potent inhibitor
of CYP24 activity (the enzyme responsible for the catabolism
of vitamin D; CYP24 is also a candidate oncogene). Cytochroma
has shown, in both in vitro and in vivo Cytochroma Inc. – Next
Generation Drugs Combining Superior Safety With Efficacy
2 cancer models, that CTA002 is synergistic with standard
chemotherapeutics
as well as, by itself, possessing anti-tumorigenic effects
without causing toxicity. In vivo studies have shown that
CTA002 is approximately 100-fold less calcemic than calcitriol
when
given orally. CTA002 was specifically designed by Prof.
Gary H. Posner and is protected under patents and patent
applications
exclusively licensed to Cytochroma Inc. from the Johns
Hopkins University.
About Cytochroma Inc.
Cytochroma Inc.
is a specialty
drug development company targeting hyperproliferative
disorders, autoimmune diseases and chronic kidney disease.
The company
is currently focused on developing and commercializing
innovative vitamin D analogs and is in or about to
enter clinical trials
in psoriasis, secondary hyperparathyroidism, autoimmune
disorders and cancer. For more information, please
visit www.cytochroma.com.
For information contact:
Sheldon Kawarsky,
Ph.D.
Director, Business Development
Cytochroma
Inc.
330 Cochrane Drive
Markham, Ontario L3R 8E4
CANADA
Phone: (905)
479-5306 ext. 337
Fax:
(905) 479-1287
sheldon.kawarsky@cytochroma.com
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