WALTHAM, Mass., Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- AltaRex Corp. (AXO.TO, ALXFF.OTC)
announced today the presentation of preclinical ProstaRex(TM) data at the
American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Special Conference, "New
Discoveries in Prostate Cancer Biology and Treatment". The same data is now
published in a peer reviewed journal (Clinical Immunology 2001 Dec;101(3):276-
83). The findings presented demonstrate that the complex of ProstaRex(TM) MAb
and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), and not ProstaRex(TM) MAb or PSA alone,
activate robust T cell responses and meaningfully slow tumor growth in the
Company's animal model studies. The data suggest that ProstaRex(TM) MAb
uniquely mobilizes beneficial T cell immunity, using PSA as the target
antigen, and indicate the potential of ProstaRex(TM) MAb as a novel and
effective treatment for prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer
death in men.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000831/ALTREXLOGO )
The ProstaRex(TM) studies were conducted by Dr. Dean Mann, Head of the
Division of Immunogenetics at the University of Maryland, in conjunction with
the Company's animal model studies. Like the Company's other antibodies,
ProstaRex(TM) MAb targets a specific tumor associated antigen that is present
in the tumor and secreted into circulation. ProstaRex(TM) MAb specifically
targets the antigen PSA. An increasing level of PSA in the bloodstream is both
a useful and well known marker for prostate cancer and a good potential target
for immunotherapy. ProstaRex(TM) MAb is designed to bind to circulating PSA,
forming a complex that activates the immune system to attack PSA-producing
(prostate) tumors.
As the tumor grows, PSA is processed by the immune system as a self
antigen, and therefore is not normally recognized. By targeting the foreign
antibody ProstaRex(TM) to the circulating PSA, an immune complex can be formed
that is processed as foreign by antigen presenting cells including dendritic
cells. Processing of PSA as foreign activates the immune system and, in
particular, leads to the generation of robust T cell responses against PSA,
both in circulation and presented on the tumor. The T cell responses to
antigen-antibody complexes, as opposed to the antigen or antibody alone,
concurrently activate both T helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs).
"The Company is enormously encouraged by the ProstaRex(TM) MAb findings
that once again demonstrate the viablity of our proprietary approach to cancer
treatment. This is our third foreign antibody in development to generate
robust immune responses that are capable of killing cancer cells. We believe
that the size of the prostate cancer market in combination with this positive
ProstaRex(TM) MAb data will better enable us to seek a near-term partnering
opportunity to accelerate clinical development and eventual marketing of the
antibody," commented Richard E. Bagley, President and CEO of AltaRex.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in
American males and the most common solid tumor with nearly 180,000 new cases
each year. Surgical or radiotherapeutic intervention is effective treatment
for localized disease, however, micrometastases are not eliminated by these
measures. Standard chemotherapy and/or hormonal treatments are not always
successful in eradicating residual tumor cells. In other malignancies,
immune-based therapies have achieved some degree of success in cancers that
have not responded to conventional treatment are and now also being
investigated as an adjunct treatment modality in prostatatic cancer.
More about AltaRex research and development of foreign antibodies that
activate the immune system, the Company's clinical trials, news and events can
be found at http://www.altarex.com.
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, uncertainties regarding the timely and successful
completion of clinical trials, patient enrollment rates, uncertainty of
preclinical, retrospective, early and interim clinical trial results, such as
the preclinical data described in this press release, which may not be
indicative of results that will be obtained in ongoing or future clinical
trials, whether the Company will file for regulatory approval on a
timely basis, uncertainties as to when, if at all, the FDA will approve the
Company's regulatory filings for its products, the need to establish and
scale-up manufacturing processes, the need to obtain and maintain corporate
alliances, uncertainty as to the timely development 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
Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking
statement.
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
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 212-782-2840
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/128163.html
CONTACT:
Sondra Henrichon, Director, Investor
Relations and Corporate Communications of AltaRex Corp.,
+1-781-672-0138, ext. 1510, shenrichon@altarex.com; or Martti
Kangas, Investor Relations of The Equicom Group Inc.,
+1-416-815-0700, ext. 243, mkangas@equicomgroup.com
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