Adherex Further Expands Patent Protection In Oncology.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 2004 Granted Two New US patents For Use in the Inhibition of Cancer Cell Proliferation and Enhancing Drug Delivery to Tumors Adherex Technologies Inc. (TSX TSX Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE before April, 2002) TSX Transfer from Stack Pointer to Index TSX True Space Extension :AHX AHX American History X (movie) AHX Abyss' Highest eXperience ) today announced it was issued two new US patents which provide further depth to its broad platform of innovative therapeutic approaches in the management of cancer. The patents provide for claims with applications in inhibiting cell proliferation, a fundamental feature of cancers, and also in more effective delivery of drugs to cancers, particularly skin tumors. The first patent covers therapeutic methods for inhibiting catenin-driven gene transcription Gene transcription The process by which genetic information is copied from DNA to RNA, resulting in a specific protein formation. Mentioned in: Gene Therapy and cell proliferation. Catenins are multifunctional intracellular proteins that not only bind to cell adhesion molecules Cell Adhesion Molecules (CAMs) are proteins located on the cell surface involved with the binding with other cells or with the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the process called cell adhesion. called cadherins, but also affect gene expression by interacting with nuclear proteins such as steroid receptors. Dr. Orest Blaschuk, Chief Scientist and a scientific founder of Adherex explains, "These compounds may enable us to regulate tumor growth by blocking the interaction between catenin and steroid receptors. This patent therefore represents a new approach to treating steroid driven cancers, such as prostate cancer prostate cancer, cancer originating in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the leading malignancy in men in the United States and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in men. ." The second patent relates to compounds and methods for modulating desmosomal functions. Desmosomes desmosomes, n.pl See epithelium, desmosomes of. are adhesive structures that are intimately involved in maintaining the structure, function and integrity of the skin and other epithelial tissues. Dr. William Peters, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Adherex explains, "Skin cancer, including melanoma, is by far the most common type of cancer and has dramatically increased in incidence over the past two decades with increasing morbidity and costs. Desmosome desmosome /des·mo·some/ (dez´mo-som) a circular, dense body that forms the site of attachment between certain epithelial cells, especially those of stratified epithelium of the epidermis, which consist of local differentiations of the antagonists should be useful in breaking down tissue and tumor barriers to facilitate drug delivery to the tumor. In particular, these antagonists should be very helpful for enhancing drug delivery through the skin to the cancer." About Adherex Technologies Adherex Technologies Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of products under development. Four products are in clinical development including Exherin(TM), Adherex's lead cadherin antagonist compound, and STS (Synchronous Transport Signal) The electrical equivalent of the SONET optical signal. In SDH, the European counterpart of SONET, STS is known as STM (Synchronous Transport Module). , a drug that protects against severe hearing loss that is often produced by platinum-based anticancer agents. Adherex's intellectual property includes broad, interlocking interlocking /in·ter·lock·ing/ (-lok´ing) closely joined, as by hooks or dovetails; locking into one another. interlocking Obstetrics A rare complication of vaginal delivery of twins; the 1st protection for cadherin-mediated adhesion and represents what the Company believes to be the world's broadest portfolio of vascular targeting and cell adhesion-inhibiting agents. For more information, please visit Adherex's website at www.adherex.com. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Certain information contained in this news release is forward-looking and is subject to unknown risks and uncertainties. The actual results, performance or achievements of the company may differ materially from the results, performance or achievements of the Company expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. |
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