Adherex Issued Additional Patent for the Prevention of Cancer Metastasis; Company Receives U.S. Patent for OB-cadherin Mediated Cancer Metastasis.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 30, 2003 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 ), an Ottawa-based biopharmaceutical company, today announced it was issued a new U.S. patent for compounds that inhibit cancer 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 via OB-cadherin (cadherin-11) antagonism. "The abnormal presence of OB-cadherin in tumor cells has been found to be linked to cancer metastasizing to distant sites," explains Dr. Orest Blaschuk, Chief Scientist and Co-Founder of Adherex. "The compounds covered by this patent are able to bind OB-cadherin in tumor cells and thus potentially prevent the spread of cancers." Laboratory studies at Georgetown University's Lombardi Cancer Centre have shown that Adherex OB-cadherin antagonists antagonists, n muscles that counterbalance agonists during specific movements. opioid Neurology A pain-attenuating peptide that occurs naturally in the brain, which induces analgesia by mimicking endogenous opioids at opioid block cancer cell migration. "Preliminary experiments using a breast cancer cell invasion assay have shown that these Adherex compounds significantly inhibit cancer cell invasion," said Dr. Stephen Byers Stephen John Byers (born April 13, 1953) is a British politician. He is the Labour Member of Parliament for Tyneside North and is a former cabinet minister. Early career Stephen Byers was born in Wolverhampton. , Professor of Oncology and Cell Biology Cell biology The study of the activities, functions, properties, and structures of cells. Cells were discovered in the middle of the seventeenth century after the microscope was invented. at Georgetown University Georgetown University, in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C.; Jesuit; coeducational; founded 1789 by John Carroll, chartered 1815, inc. 1844. Its law and medical schools are noteworthy, and its archives are especially rich in letters and manuscripts by and . "The results further correlate OB-cadherin and cancer metastasis and suggest promise for the use of Adherex compounds as anti-metastatic agents." Additional studies are ongoing. "Cancer metastasis is an especially difficult challenge in cancer treatment," said Dr. William P. Peters, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Adherex. "Once a cancer has metastasized, it becomes much more difficult to treat effectively. The research underlying this patent may provide a means to prevent cancer metastasis from occurring." This marks Adherex's 26th issued patent, and the company's second patent related to OB-cadherin and cancer metastasis. About Adherex Technologies Inc. Adherex Technologies Inc. is an Ottawa-based biopharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of products under development. Four products are in clinical development during 2003 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 anti-cancer agents. For more information, please visit Adherex's Web site 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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