AVI BioPharma Presents Effectiveness of NEUGENE Antisense Agent In Inhibiting Prostate Cancer Cell Growth.Business Editors and Health/Medical/Biotechnology Writers Endocrine Society's 84th annual meeting PORTLAND, Ore.--(BW HealthWire)--June 20, 2002 AVI BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq:AVII)(Nasdaq:AVIIW)(Nasdaq:AVIIZ), announced the completion of preclinical studies which demonstrated that its NEUGENE(R) antisense antisense, DNA or RNA manipulated in a laboratory so that its components (nucleotides) form a complementary copy of normal, or "sense," messenger RNA (mRNA; see nucleic acid). drug for prostate cancer successfully programs cancer cells for death (apoptosis), as well as inhibits cancer cells from becoming metastatic Metastatic The term used to describe a secondary cancer, or one that has spread from one area of the body to another. Mentioned in: Coagulation Disorders metastatic pertaining to or of the nature of a metastasis. . Data from the studies will be presented today by Gayathri Devi, Ph.D., senior scientist at AVI (Audio Video Interleaved) A Windows multimedia video format from Microsoft. It interleaves standard waveform audio and digital video frames (bitmaps) to provide reduced animation at 15 fps at 160x120x8 resolution. Audio is 11,025Hz, 8-bit samples. , at the Endocrine Society's 84th annual meeting in San Francisco. AVI's prostate cancer drug targets an enzyme that has been implicated im·pli·cate tr.v. im·pli·cat·ed, im·pli·cat·ing, im·pli·cates 1. To involve or connect intimately or incriminatingly: evidence that implicates others in the plot. 2. in tumor development, specifically a tumor's ability to become invasive and metastatic. NEUGENE antisense to Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a leading drug candidate in AVI's pipeline for the treatment of cancer. By programming cancer cells for death and by inhibiting cellular invasion and metastasis metastasis /me·tas·ta·sis/ (me-tas´tah-sis) pl. metas´tases 1. transfer of disease from one organ or part of the body to another not directly connected with it, due either to transfer of pathogenic microorganisms or to , the cancer will be self-limiting and will not spread throughout the body. "These studies expand our understanding of the function of human genes in cancer so that our future anticancer agents will target specific gene expression, leading to more effective and less toxic therapy," said Patrick L. Iversen, Ph.D., senior vice president of research and development at AVI. "The completion of these studies sets the stage for possible entry into clinical development with this exciting therapeutic approach next year." In her research, Dr. Devi also observed that the current standard approach to treatment of prostate cancer, androgen deprivation therapy, causes a paradoxical elevation in the MMP-9 gene expression. This results in tumors that may be more aggressive. Dr. Devi said, "The antisense approach targeting MMP-9 gene expression inhibits prostate cancer cell proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis angiogenesis /an·gio·gen·e·sis/ (-jen´e-sis) vasculogenesis; development of blood vessels either in the embryo or in the form of neovascularization or revascularization. an·gi·o·gen·e·sis n. , which establishes the feasibility of developing a targeted, nontoxic antisense therapeutic agent for inhibiting tumor invasion and metastasis." About AVI BioPharma AVI BioPharma develops therapeutic products for the treatment of life-threatening diseases using two technology platforms: NEUGENE antisense drugs and cancer immunotherapy. Its lead cancer agent, AVICINE(R), a therapeutic cancer vaccine, has completed three Phase II trials in colorectal and pancreatic cancer and is initiating a Phase III pivotal trial in pancreatic cancer, with a supporting study in colorectal cancer. The first application of its NEUGENE compounds, Resten-NG(TM), is designed to treat cancer, cardiovascular restenosis and other cell proliferation disorders by inhibiting the production of a cellular transcription factor, the oncogene oncogene Gene that can cause cancer. It is a sequence of DNA that has been altered or mutated from its original form, the proto-oncogene (see mutation). Proto-oncogenes promote the specialization and division of normal cells. c-myc. It is currently in Phase II trials for restenosis and in Phase I/II trials for cancer and polycystic kidney disease Polycystic Kidney Disease Definition Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is one of the most common of all life-threatening human genetic disorders. . AVI has recently completed a Phase I NEUGENE antisense study that successfully down-regulated the liver enzyme Cytochrome P450 and modified drug metabolism. More information about AVI is available on the Company's Web site at http://www.avibio.com/. "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995: The statements that are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the results of research and development efforts; the results of preclinical and clinical testing; the effect of regulation by the FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. and other agencies; the impact of competitive products, product development, commercialization and technological difficulties; and other risks detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. |
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