Novel Systems May Provide Cancer Patients With Improved Potential to Battle
Their Disease
PASADENA, Calif., April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Arrowhead Research
Corporation (Nasdaq: ARWR) announced today that two of its majority-owned
subsidiaries, Insert Therapeutics Inc. and Calando Pharmaceuticals Inc.,
are presenting data at the 2007 American Association for Cancer Research
(AACR) Annual Meeting. The presentations summarize the latest research
findings on two anticancer therapies currently under development. Both
therapies employ a novel delivery system called Cyclosert(TM), developed at
the California Institute of Technology and exclusively licensed to Insert
Therapeutics and, through Insert, to Calando.
"We are pleased that our companies have outstanding data to present at
this prestigious conference," said R. Bruce Stewart, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Arrowhead. "We see great promise going forward for the
treatment of cancer using our delivery system."
Cyclosert is the first nanoparticle drug transport platform to be
designed de novo and synthesized specifically to overcome limitations in
existing technologies used for the systemic transport of therapeutics to
targeted sites within the body. Based on small cyclic repeating molecules
of glucose called cyclodextrins, Cyclosert promotes the ability of
cytotoxic drugs to inhibit the growth of human cancer cells while reducing
toxicity and remaining non-immunogenic at therapeutic doses. In particular,
the system is designed to reduce the toxicity of the drugs until they
actually reach the targeted tumor cells where the active drug is released
in a controlled fashion.
Insert's Chief Scientific Officer, Thomas Schluep, Sc.D., will present
data from in vitro and animal studies using the Cyclosert system to deliver
tubulysin A, a potent, but highly toxic, antitumor agent. In vitro studies
have shown the tubulysin-Cyclosert conjugate to be effective against
multiple human cancer cell lines. The conjugate was found to be stable and
100 times more water soluble than the free drug.
Calando's Chief Scientific Officer, Jeremy Heidel, Ph.D, will present
data from animal studies using the Cyclosert system augmented by Calando's
own proprietary technology. Calando is developing a type of ribonucleic
acid (RNA) called small interfering RNA, or siRNA, for anticancer use. In
the tests, this siRNA-containing formulation, using Cyclosert as a delivery
system, showed significant antitumor activity and was well-tolerated.
Testing and development is ongoing for both drugs.
About Arrowhead Research Corporation
Arrowhead Research Corporation (http://www.arrowheadresearch.com) (Nasdaq:
ARWR) is a leading nanotechnology company commercializing new technologies
in the areas of life sciences, electronics, and energy. Arrowhead is
building value for shareholders through the progress of majority owned
subsidiaries founded on nanotechnologies originally developed at
universities. The company works closely with universities to source early
stage deals and to generate rights to intellectual property covering
promising new nanotechnologies. Currently, Arrowhead has four subsidiaries
commercializing nanotech products and applications, including anti-cancer
drugs, RNAi therapeutics, carbon-based electronics and compound
semiconductor materials.
About Insert Therapeutics Inc.
Insert Therapeutics, Inc. (http://www.insertt.com) is using its proprietary,
nano-engineered, polymeric delivery system, Cyclosert(TM), to design,
develop and commercialize drug-delivery-enhanced small-molecule
therapeutics and nucleic acids. Cyclosert uses cyclodextrins as building
blocks to create an entirely new class of biocompatible materials -- linear
cyclodextrin-containing polymers that are non-toxic and non-immunogenic at
therapeutic doses. The company is pursuing this goal through its internal
research and development, and also through collaborations and partnerships
with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
About Calando Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Calando Pharmaceuticals Inc. (http://www.calandopharma.com) is using its
proprietary technologies in targeted polymeric delivery systems and siRNA
design to design and create new, targeted siRNA therapeutics. Small
interfering RNAs (siRNA) use RNA interference, or RNAi, a naturally
occurring mechanism within cells to selectively silence and regulate
specific genes. The ability to silence genes selectively through RNAi could
provide a new way to treat a wide range of human diseases. The company is
pursuing this goal through its internal research and development and also
through collaborations and partnerships with pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995:
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon our current
expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual results may
differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including the
recent economic slowdown affecting technology companies, the future success
of our scientific studies, our ability to successfully develop products,
rapid technological change in our markets, changes in demand for our future
products, legislative, regulatory and competitive developments and general
economic conditions. Our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, recent and
forthcoming Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Forms
8-K, our Registration Statements on Form S-3, and other SEC filings discuss
some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of
operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to revise or
update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
SOURCE Arrowhead Research Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.arrowheadresearch.com
CONTACT:
Virginia Dadey of Arrowhead Research
Corporation, +1-212-541-3707, vdadey@arrowres.com
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