PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Bioject Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: BJCT), a leading developer of
needle-free drug delivery systems, announced today that it has signed an
agreement with the Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York to study
the enhanced efficacy for the "Biojector(R) 2000" (B-2000) on immune responses
to DNA vaccines.
The studies, to be conducted by Principal Investigators Jedd Wolchok,
MD, PhD, and Miguel Perales MD, will seek to determine the cellular and
molecular mechanisms responsible for the enhancement of immunogenicity
associated with needle-free injection. In addition, the results will seek to
provide greater insight into the immune mechanisms activated by DNA vaccines
and permit re-design and optimization of the B2000 for this application. This
may ultimately permit realization of the full potential of DNA vaccines for
human therapy. Because these vaccines may be powerful agents for combating
infectious disease and cancer, they have the potential to provide safe and
effective treatment for millions of patients.
"Many pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown that needle-free
injection of DNA vaccines with the B2000 system result in significantly
greater immune responses than injection with the needle and syringe," said
Jim O'Shea, Chairman, President and CEO of Bioject. "We look forward to
working with Memorial-Sloan Kettering on this and other ongoing
collaborations."
Jedd Wolchok, MD, PhD, and Miguel Peralis, MD, Principal Investigators
involved in the studies at Memorial-Sloan Kettering, commented, "Preliminary
studies in our laboratory have documented the improvement of immune responses
elicited by injection of DNA vaccines with the Bioject B2000. Identification
of the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for that improvement will
permit further development of DNA vaccines as therapeutic agents."
About the Biojector 2000
The Biojector(R) 2000 is a needle-free injection system that has been used
to deliver injections in a wide range of healthcare settings. The Biojector
has many unique features, including the ability to deliver both intramuscular
and subcutaneous injections up to one milliliter in volume. Since its
introduction in 1993, the Biojector has set a new standard for the comfort,
safety, and convenience of injection equipment.
The Biojector has FDA clearance for delivering subcutaneous or
intramuscular injections of liquid medication, including vaccines and other
injected medications. Because there is no needle, the Biojector provides
healthcare workers with an unparalleled level of protection against accidental
needlestick injuries. In high-risk situations, such as delivering injections
to patients known to be infected with HIV or Hepatitis, the Biojector is an
ideal injection system.
About Bioject
Bioject Medical Technologies Inc., based in Portland Oregon, is an
innovative developer and manufacturer of needle-free drug delivery systems.
Bioject's strategic partners include Amgen, Serono and Alkermes. Needle-free
injection works by forcing medication at high speed through a tiny orifice
held against the skin. This creates a fine stream of high-pressure fluid
penetrating the skin and depositing medication in the tissue beneath.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company,
or industry results, to be materially different from any future results,
performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Readers of this press release are referred to the company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's
reports on Forms 10-K and Forms 10-Q for further discussions of factors that
could affect future results. Forward-looking statements are based on the
estimates and opinions of management on the date the statements are made. The
Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if
conditions or management's estimates or opinions should change.
More information can be found at Bioject's home page at:
http://www.bioject.com.
SOURCE Bioject Medical Technologies, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.bioject.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/101750.html
CONTACT:
Cecelia C. Heer, Investor Relations Manager
of Bioject Medical Technologies, Inc., +1-973-605-8554, or
cheer@bioject.com; or IR/Media, Jim Flanagan of IR Strategic
Advisors, +1-781-863-1333, or jflanagan@iradvisors.com, for
Bioject Medical Technologies, Inc.
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