GAITHERSBURG, Md., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Panacea Pharmaceuticals' lung
cancer diagnostic test, LC Detect(SM), has been named one of Time Magazine's
Ten Biggest Medical Breakthroughs of 2007 (Due to length of URL, please cut
and paste into browser:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/article/0,30583,1686204_1686252_1690390,
00.html) LC Detect(SM) is a simple blood test to facilitate the identification
of lung cancer, even among individuals with early-stage disease. 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.
Lung cancer accounts for the highest number of cancer deaths worldwide,
in both men and women. An estimated 213,380 new cases of cancer involving
the lung or bronchus are expected in the U.S. in 2007, accounting for about
15 percent of total cancer diagnoses. An estimated 160,390 deaths,
accounting for about 29 percent of all cancer deaths, are expected to occur
in 2007. Since 1987, more women have died each year from lung cancer than
from breast cancer. Lung cancer was the third most common cancer for men
and the fifth most common cancer for women in Japan in 2000. The five-year
survival rate for lung cancer is only 15 percent. Survival rates for
individuals in whom lung cancer is detected at an early stage while it
remains localized are as high as 50 percent. Current screening and
detection methods rely on imaging modalities, primarily chest x-ray and CT
scanning. However, chest x-ray is not sufficiently sensitive and CT
scanning is expensive with only a moderate improvement in sensitivity.
Newer tests, such as low-dose spiral computed tomography scans and
molecular markers in sputum have not proven to be useful to date.
LC Detect(SM) measures levels of human aspartyl (asparaginyl)
beta-hydroxylase (HAAH), a cancer molecular marker, in blood. HAAH has been
detected by immunohistochemical staining in a broad range of cancers,
including lung cancer, and has been shown to be highly specific and absent
in adjacent non-affected tissue as well as tissue from cancer-free
individuals. 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 lung cancer. Panacea has
found increased levels of HAAH in the serum of 99 percent of patients with
lung cancer (n=160), including those with early-stage disease. In
individuals not known to have cancer, HAAH was essentially undetectable in
serum (n=93, specificity = 91 percent). In a population of 50 smokers not
known to have cancer the mean serum HAAH level was 0 ng/ml.
"Recognition by Time Magazine of the importance of early detect of lung
cancer using LC Detect(SM) represents a significant milestone for Panacea,
and acknowledgement of the clinical importance of this diagnostic test,"
cited Hossein Ghanbari, Ph.D., Chairman, CEO and CSO of Panacea
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "Widespread use of LC Detect(SM) should facilitate
detection of lung cancer at an earlier stage when effective treatment has a
better chance of saving lives and reducing mortality from the number one
cancer worldwide."
About Panacea's Oncology Platform
In addition to PC Detect(SM), Panacea offers, CC Detect(SM), a
diagnostic test to aide in the detection of colo-rectal cancer, LC
Detect(SM), a diagnostic test to aide in the detection of patients with
lung cancer, BC Detect(SM), a diagnostic test to aide in the detection of
recurrence of breast cancer, and TK Sense(SM), 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.
Additional 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
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Related links:
http://www.panaceapharma.com
CONTACT:
Stephen N. Keith, MD, MSPH, President & COO
of Panacea Pharmaceuticals, +1-240-243-8000, or fax,
+1-240-465-0450, skeith@panaceapharma.com
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