WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- AltaRex Corp.
(Toronto: AXO; OTC: ALRXF) today announced new and preliminary data from a
completed Phase I clinical trial of its BrevaRex(TM) MAb demonstrating
activation of cellular (T cell) immune responses in addition to the previously
reported humoral (B cell) immune responses. AltaRex expects to report final
results at the upcoming American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in
December.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000831/ALTREXLOGO )
"Generation of a cellular immune response with BrevaRex(TM) MAb supports
the Company's understanding of the way in which its monoclonal antibodies
(MAbs) work and how effective these MAbs may be as immunotherapeutics in
fighting targeted cancers," commented Richard Bagley, President and CEO of
AltaRex. "The BrevaRex(TM) data are consistent with our studies of OvaRex(TM)
MAb, our lead, late stage product for ovarian cancer."
The Company believes there are several important implications from the
BrevaRex(TM) data:
* The simultaneous activation of both arms of the immune system following
administration of BrevaRex(TM) could generate proportionally stronger
cancer-killing activity than either arm acting separately.
* The consistency of mechanism findings, both preclinically among
OvaRex(TM), BrevaRex(TM) and ProstaRex(TM) MAbs, and clinically among
OvaRex(TM) and BrevaRex(TM) MAbs, indicate the potential breadth of the
Company's pipeline for cancer treatment.
* This consistency, both scientifically and medically, supports the
Company's belief that its proprietary technology platform represents a
strong base on which additional antibody based programs in other disease
areas can eventually be developed.
BrevaRex(TM) MAb is the Company's second antibody product to be tested in
clinical trials. Like OvaRex(TM) MAb, it targets a circulating tumor
associated antigen. The target for BrevaRex(TM) MAb is MUC1, a tumor marker
associated with most cases of multiple myeloma and also other malignancies
such as breast, lung and ovarian cancers. The Company is researching how to
mobilize the human immune response to best help patients to fight their own
disease. Subject to the availability of additional financial resources, the
Company intends to pursue with BrevaRex(TM) MAb an Orphan Drug/Fast Track
development approach for the indication of multiple myeloma, a devastating
cancer of the bone marrow with limited treatment options.
AltaRex Corp. is focused exclusively on antibodies as immunotherapeutics.
The Company is devoted to the research, development and commercialization of
novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancers. AltaRex evidence suggests
that its proprietary platform technology, through multiple mechanisms,
enhances the ability of the human immune system to produce an anti-tumor
response. The Company has five antibody-based products in various stages of
development; most advanced is OvaRex(TM) MAb for ovarian cancer.
Additional information about AltaRex research and development, news and
events can be found on its web site at http://www.altarex.com. Clinical information
can also be found on the CenterWatch web site at http://www.centerwatch.com.
Additional information about ovarian cancer can be found at
http://www.ovariancanada.org and at http://www.ovarian.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 forgoing, 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 the need for capital, changing market
conditions, completion of clinical trials, patient enrollment rates,
uncertainty of preclinical, retrospective and early clinical trial results,
such as the results described 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.
NEITHER THE ONTARIO SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE
HAVE APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.
SOURCE AltaRex Corp.
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Related links:
http://www.altarex.com
Photo Notes:
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. 5110, or shenrichon@altarex.com
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