FRANKLIN, Mass., May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sontra Medical
Corporation (Nasdaq: SONT) announced today that clinical results from Sontra's
first transdermal vaccination study will be presented at the Eight Annual
Conference on Vaccine Research. In this study, originally announced in October
2004, the SonoPrep ultrasonic skin permeation device enabled the transdermal
delivery of large molecular weight antigens to induce a skin immune response.
Shikha Barman, PhD, Director of Transdermal Drug Development at Sontra
will be presenting the results at a poster session being held on Monday May
9th from 10:30-11:30 AM at the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor Hotel in
Maryland. For more information:
http://www.nfid.org/conferences/vaccine05/vaccineconf.pdf
The twenty patient study was conducted at the University of Massachusetts
Medical Center by Daniel H. Libraty, M.D. A ten patient treatment group
received a SonoPrep skin pretreatment on their forearm and the antigenic
proteins, tetanus toxoid and candida albicans were applied topically to the
treated skin sites. A ten-patient control group received intradermal
injection of the same antigenic proteins. The immune responses induced by
these antigenic proteins were evaluated by measuring the extent and duration
of the skin reaction, known at the delayed-type hypersensitivity response
(DTH). A DTH skin immune response was induced in 90% of the SonoPrep treated
patients and the duration of the DTH skin reaction was similar in the
treatment group versus the control group.
Based on the promising results from this study, Sontra has commenced a
second study at UMass Medical Center using SonoPrep to deliver the hepatitis A
vaccine transdermally. In addition, Sontra has commenced a transdermal flu
vaccination study at St. Louis University.
"The data from this study provided the first clinical validation that the
SonoPrep can facilitate the delivery of vaccines," stated Dr. Barman. "Because
SonoPrep controls the actual permeability of the skin surface, antigens can be
precisely delivered and a powerful immune response can be induced by
activating the Langerhan cells in the epidermis. To date the majority of
vaccines are delivered by needle injection. Not only does SonoPrep have the
potential to improve the efficacy of vaccines, transdermal vaccines also
eliminate the risk of inadvertent needle generated disease transmission and
patients always prefer pain-free therapy."
About Sontra Medical Corporation (http://www.sontra.com)
Sontra Medical Corporation is a technology leader in transdermal science.
Sontra's SonoPrep ultrasound-mediated skin permeation technology combined with
technical competencies in transdermal drug formulation, delivery systems and
biosensors is creating a new paradigm in transdermal drug delivery and
diagnosis. The SonoPrep technology has demonstrated strong results from its
initial human clinical trials at leading universities and medical centers for
several billion dollar market opportunities including the transdermal delivery
of vaccines and large molecule drugs and continuous non-invasive glucose
monitoring. Sontra is currently marketing the SonoPrep device and procedure
tray for use with topical lidocaine to achieve rapid (within five minutes)
skin anesthesia.
Contacts:
Sean Moran, Sontra Medical CFO
508-553-8850 ext 234
or
Evan Smith, CFA / Erica Pettit, Financial Dynamics
212-850-5606 / 212-850-5614
SonoPrep is a registered trademark of Sontra Medical Corporation. All
other company, product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective owners.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which address a
variety of subjects including, for example, the expected benefits and efficacy
of the SonoPrep device in connection vaccine delivery, the expected market
opportunities, clinical study results, distribution and market acceptance of
the SonoPrep device and technology, the expected size of the markets for the
SonoPrep device and technology, Sontra's expected ability to form strategic
partnerships and commercialize additional products, including for the surgical
intensive care unit, and Sontra's business, research, product development,
regulatory approval, marketing and distribution plans and strategies.
Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our
beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are
based on our current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and
uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from
those described in the forward-looking statements. The following important
factors and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual results to differ
materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: adverse
results in product development, clinical trials, commercialization efforts,
product distribution and market acceptance; difficulties or delays in
obtaining regulatory approvals to market products resulting from development
efforts; difficulties or delays associated with sources of regulatory-approved
transdermal drugs and vaccines; failure to obtain and maintain patent
protection for discoveries; commercial limitations imposed by patents owned or
controlled by third parties; dependence upon strategic partners and third-
party distributors to develop, commercialize, market and sell products based
on our work; the commercial success of products; and the requirement for
substantial funding to conduct research and development and to expand
commercialization, distribution and marketing activities. For detailed
information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those described in the forward-looking statements, please refer to
Sontra's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
Sontra's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-KSB. Forward-looking statements
represent management's current expectations and are inherently uncertain. We
do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements made by
us.
SOURCE Sontra Medical Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.sontra.com
CONTACT:
Sean Moran, CFO of Sontra Medical,
+1-508-553-8850 ext. 234, or Evan Smith, CFA, +1-212-850-5606, or
Erica Pettit, +1-212-850-5614, both of Financial Dynamics
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