GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Panacea Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. announced today that BC Detect(SM), the Company's serum-based breast
cancer diagnostic test, is now available from Panacea Laboratories. BC
Detect(SM) is a simple blood test that should facilitate the identification
of recurrence among women successfully treated for breast cancer. Panacea
Laboratories, a division of Panacea Pharmaceuticals, is certified under the
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA). The blood sample
can be ordered by any physician and sent to Panacea for testing; sample and
shipping requirements are available at http://www.panacea-labs.com.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women accounting for
26% of female cancers. One in every eight women will develop breast cancer
in their lifetime, placing the lifetime risk at 13%. More than 200,000 new
cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2007 and
upwards of 2 million women are currently breast cancer survivors. Five-year
survival rates for breast cancer are 98% for localized disease, 83% for
regionally spread and 26% for distantly spread cancer. However, 25% of all
metastases occur more than 5 years after the initial diagnosis and thus
survival rates decrease as time goes out to 10 years due to disease
recurrence. Methods to detect initial presentation of breast cancer as well
as recurrence rely on imaging modalities, including mammography and MRI. No
serum biomarkers have been approved for either primary breast cancer
screening or monitoring for disease recurrence primarily due to relatively
low specificities and sensitivities. In asymptomatic women in remission
from breast cancer the guidelines of the major oncologic organizations only
suggest annual mammography for detection of new tumors.
BC Detect(SM) measures levels of human aspartyl (asparaginyl) beta-
hydroxylase (HAAH), a cancer molecular marker, in blood. HAAH has been
detected by immunohistochemical staining (IHC) in a broad range of cancers
including breast cancer. In addition, HAAH protein levels in serum have
been demonstrated to be highly sensitive and specific for cancer in
hundreds of patients with a range of cancer types, including breast cancer.
Increased levels of HAAH have been found in the serum of 96% of women with
breast cancer (n=157). In women not known to have cancer, HAAH was
essentially undetectable in serum (n=32, specificity = 91%). HAAH was
elevated in serum from women with all stages of breast cancer; mean serum
HAAH levels for stages I - IV were 19, 13, 21 and 15 ng/ml, respectively.
In addition, serum from women currently in remission (n=35) following
treatment for breast cancer were also analyzed and found to be negative for
HAAH.
"Measurement of serum HAAH levels using BC Detect(SM) has great promise
as a diagnostic tool to monitor women with a history of breast cancer for
disease recurrence", commented Pamela Jo Harris, MD, Vice President,
Medical and Clinical Affairs at Panacea. "BC Detect(SM), in conjunction
with routine follow-up imaging modalities should facilitate earlier
identification of recurrent disease and prompt initiation of appropriate
therapy."
About Panacea's Oncology Platform
In addition to BC Detect(SM), Panacea offers, PC Detect(SM), a
diagnostic test used in conjunction with PSA and digital rectal exam to
identify patients with prostate cancer, LC Detect(SM), a diagnostic test to
aide in the detection of patients with lung cancer, and TK Sensesm, which
determines whether white blood cells from patients with chronic myelogenous
leukemia (CML) are sensitive or resistant to imatinib, the therapy of first
choice for CML patients, prior to initiation of therapy.
The HAAH serum assay will be further developed as a diagnostic test for
other types of cancer. Panacea is also pursuing the development of
antibodies directed against HAAH as novel agents for the treatment of
cancer with liver cancer as the first therapeutic indication. The Company
is exploring both naked anti-HAAH antibodies as well as HAAH antibodies
conjugated to chemotherapeutic agents and toxins. PAN-622 is an all-human
sequence anti- HAAH monoclonal antibody that has demonstrated excellent
efficacy in animals, and is currently in development as a cancer
therapeutic.
About Panacea Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Panacea Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a privately-held biopharmaceutical
company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics
and diagnostics for diseases with substantial, unmet clinical needs. The
Company's product development strategy is based on novel therapeutic agents
and approaches for cancer treatment, as well as acute and chronic
neurodegenerative conditions, such as hypoxia-induced neurological insult,
Parkinson's Disease, and Alzheimer's Disease. Panacea has an extensive
patent portfolio covering its neurodegenerative and oncology technologies.
Panacea Laboratories is a division of Panacea Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
More information about the Company is available at
http://www.PanaceaPharma.com.
Except for historical information presented in this press release,
matters discussed herein may constitute "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward- looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of
management only as of the date of this release and are subject to certain
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed
or implied by such statements. Factors that might cause such a difference
include, but are not limited to, uncertainties related to our access to
capital, the progress, costs, and results of any clinical trials undertaken
by us, progress of our research and development projects, and uncertainties
related to whether our product candidates would ultimately achieve
commercial success. We do not undertake any obligation to update publicly
any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise unless required by law.
SOURCE Panacea Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.panaceapharma.com
CONTACT:
Stephen N. Keith, MD, MSPH, President & COO
of Panacea Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-240-243-8000,
+1-240-465-0450 - fax, skeith@panaceapharma.com
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