-- Milestone for Company's Second Product in Development --
WALTHAM, Mass., May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- AltaRex Corp. (AXO.TO, ALXFF.OTC) is
presenting results today from the Company's phase I study of BrevaRex(R) MAb
that demonstrate the ability of the antibody to elicit cancer-killing B and T
cell immune responses to the target antigen MUC1. BrevaRex(R) MAb is the
Company's second antigen-targeted antibody in development. The Company is in
the process of advancing the product into a phase I/II clinical trial for the
treatment of multiple myeloma, based on a successful Phase I safety and
immunology trial. The results of this trial, with supportive laboratory
findings, are the subject of the presentation by Dr. Birgit Schultes, Ph.D.,
Director of Immunology for AltaRex, at the 8th Annual International Myeloma
Workshop in Banff, Alberta.
( Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000831/ALTREXLOGO )
"We are very excited about the potential of BrevaRex(R) MAb to provide
patient benefit without the negative side effects of standard chemotherapy.
BrevaRex(R) MAb is among the most selective of antibodies tested by the
Company and others at differentiating diseased multiple myeloma B cells from
healthy donor cells and, if successful, this product may provide hope for
multiple myeloma patients who currently have few treatment options, "
commented Dr. Schultes.
Previously announced results of the Company's phase I study of BrevaRex(R)
MAb demonstrated that BrevaRex(R) MAb can elicit cancer-killing B and T cell
immune responses to the target antigen, MUC1. The MUC1 antigen is associated
with multiple myeloma, as well as breast, lung and ovarian cancers.
BrevaRex(R) MAb is unique in that it is specific for a particular soluble and
tumor-cell bound form of MUC1 that is preferentially expressed by multiple
myeloma and other cancer cells. This is important in safely treating patients
because of the antibody's ability to differentiate cancer associated MUC1 from
MUC1 that is present on normal, healthy cells.
Like the Company's lead antibody, OvaRex(R) MAb for ovarian cancer,
BrevaRex(R) MAb can lead to an immune response to the entire antigen. The
Company terms this immune response "multi-epitopic" - a response for which
OvaRex(R) MAb has already received a U.S. patent allowance. The importance of
a multi-epitopic response lies in the implicit ability of the antibody to
mount a broader and therefore potentially more effective anti-tumor response,
relative to traditional antigen-based vaccine approaches. These immune
responses, demonstrated to be induced by both OvaRex(R) and BrevaRex(R),
include cytolytic T cell (CTL) as well as helper T cell responses.
About Multiple Myeloma
There are approximately 40,000 people in the United States living with
multiple myeloma and 13,000 new cases of multiple myeloma are diagnosed each
year, making it the second most common blood cancer. Multiple myeloma is a
malignant cancer of the plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell
found in many tissues of the body, but mainly in the bone marrow. These cells
are critically important to normal immune system function. As the cancer
grows it destroys normal bone tissue, causing pain and crowding out normal
blood cell production. Incurable with conventional chemotherapy, multiple
myeloma was the cause of nearly 11,000 deaths in 2000, according to the
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
About the International Myeloma Workshop
The International Myeloma Workshop, sponsored in part by the National
Research Council of Canada, provides the myeloma community with important
insights into the origins and progression of multiple myeloma, and with
innovative new approaches for treating this incurable cancer. The workshop
is organized for discussion and debate of novel and promising ideas by leading
members of the global myeloma research and clinical community, and includes a
strong focus on both clinical issues and basic mechanisms.
About AltaRex
AltaRex Corp. is focused on the research, development and commercialization
of antigen-targeted antibody-based cancer therapies, utilizing monoclonal
antibodies as immunotherapeutic agents for the treatment of certain late-stage
cancers. OvaRex(R) MAb targets the tumor associated antigen CA 125 and is in
the final stages of clinical evaluation for ovarian cancer with
commercialization expected in the United States, assuming timely regulatory
approval under accelerated provisions, in 2002. Clinical data reported to
date evidence a prolongation in time to relapse and/or survival in the
treatment of ovarian cancer, without the toxicities seen with chemotherapy.
BrevaRex(R) MAb targets the tumor associated antigen MUC1 and has successfully
completed a Phase I safety and immunology study. The Company plans to
initiate a Phase I/II clinical study of BrevaRex(R) MAb for the treatment of
multiple myeloma this year. ProstaRex(TM) MAb targets the tumor associated
antigen PSA and has successfully demonstrated robust T and B cell immune
responses in preclinical study.
Additional information about AltaRex research and development, news and
events can be found on its web site at http://www.altarex.com. AltaRex Corp. is
traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AXO, and over-the-
counter in the United States under the symbol ALXFF. Additional information
about multiple myeloma can be found at http://www.multiplemyeloma.org.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from
the statements made. For this purpose, any statements that are contained
herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-
looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believes,"
"anticipates," "plans," "intends," "expects" and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to our need for capital and the risk that the
Company can not raise funds on a timely basis on satisfactory terms or at all,
changing market conditions, completion of clinical trials, patient enrollment
rates, uncertainty of pre-clinical, retrospective and early clinical trial
results, such as the preclinical results referred to above, which may not be
indicative of results that will be obtained in ongoing or future clinical
trials, the establishment of manufacturing processes and new corporate
alliances, the timely development, regulatory approval and market acceptance
of the Company's products, uncertainty as to whether patents will issue from
pending patent applications and, if issued, as to whether such patents will be
sufficiently broad to protect the Company's technology, and other risks
detailed from time-to-time in the Company's filings with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities authorities.
THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.
SOURCE AltaRex Corp.
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Related links:
http://www.altarex.com
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NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000831/ALTREXLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 201-369-3467
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/128163.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 128163
CONTACT:
Sondra Henrichon, Director, Investor
Relations and Corporate Communications, of AltaRex Corp.,
781-672-0138, ext. 1510, shenrichon@altarex.com; or Wayne
Hendry, Investor Relations of The Equicom Group, Inc,
416-815-0700, ext. 238, whendry@equicomgroup.com
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