WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- AltaRex Corp.
(Toronto: AXO; OTC: ALRXF) today reported new clinical data from its
double-blind placebo-controlled lead OvaRex(TM) trial for the watchful waiting
indication of ovarian cancer. In the active treatment group from the interim
analysis population, the Company has received summary results from an
independent analysis of the data demonstrating a positive association between
specific immune responses from OvaRex(TM) and clinical benefit. In the active
treatment group, more than a doubling in time to relapse is observed in
patients demonstrating a specific response characterized by the generation of
antibodies to the tumor antigen binding region of OvaRex(TM) MAb.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000831/ALTREXLOGO )
This new result complements the previously reported observation
correlating the non-specific human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) response to
patient benefit. At the same time, the Company has continued to extend its
understanding of the mechanism for its proprietary approach to utilizing
foreign antibodies to circulating tumor antigens to elicit tumor specific
immune responses. "The Company believes it has now established definitive
immunological parameters with which it can evaluate the final results from
both of its watchful waiting double-blind placebo-controlled trials expected
in the second and third quarter of next year", commented Christopher
Nicodemus, M.D., Senior Vice President Clinical Research and Development.
"These new data also strongly support our decision to conduct a third
controlled but open label trial evaluating the relationship between dosing and
these same parameters. The Company initiated enrollment in this trial in
mid-September and expects to complete enrollment by February of next year."
The Company believes that it now has substantial evidence that its
proprietary antibody approach is providing specific patient benefit in its
ongoing OvaRex(TM) clinical development program involving five (5) studies and
more than 500 patients with advanced ovarian cancer and that the mechanistic
principles established with OvaRex(TM) MAb, the Company's lead antibody, are
also operative with its second product BrevaRex(TM) MAb, the subject of a
separate announcement today.
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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