Criticare Systems provides update on Immtech's progress in anticancer research; human trials have shown mCRP safe for human use; Immtech is being encouraged to move into human trials for cancer treatment.MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 1995--Criticare Systems Inc. (NASDAQ/NMC:``CXIM''), a manufacturer and marketer of medical monitoring equipment, today provided an update on its investment in Immtech International Inc., a leading research company in the area of biotechnology. Immtech's proprietary product, mCRP, is showing anticancer effects on primary and 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. tumors. Criticare recently acquired a substantial minority position in the Chicago based company located in the Northwestern University Northwestern University, mainly at Evanston, Ill.; coeducational; chartered 1851, opened 1855 by Methodists. In 1873 it absorbed Evanston College for Ladies. Research Park. Dr. Larry Potempa, Director of Therapeutic Research at Immtech, said today, ``Due to the critical need for clinically effective anti-metastatic compounds and numerous inquiries regarding our lead compound, mCRP, we are providing the following update on our clinical development program.'' o mCRP has shown promise in treating different types of both primary and metastatic cancers. o A recombinant mCRP product (r m CRP C-reactive protein (CRP) A protein present in blood serum in various abnormal states, like inflammation. Mentioned in: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease CRP, n.pr See C-reactive protein. ) has been developed and manufacturing scaled up to produce sufficient levels of test compound to allow the company to advance into expanded human clinical trials. o Recent findings suggest r m CRP has biological efficacy and is safe to administer to humans. o r m CRP appears to derive its anticancer and antimetastatic effects by strengthening structural elements Structural elements are used in structural analysis to simplify the structure which is to be analysed. Structural elements can be linear, surfaces or volumes. Linear elements:
vessels and tissues within the body which, in turn, boosts the immune system's manner of reacting to the growth of primary cancer cells cells once believed to be peculiar to cancers, but now know to be epithelial cells differing in no respect from those found elsewhere in the body, and distinguished only by peculiarity of location and grouping. See also: Cancer and prevents the seeding of such cells into secondary (i.e. metastatic) sites. o In preclinical work, r m CRP appears to enhance the efficacy of other anticancer drugs Anticancer Drugs Definition Anticancer, or antineoplastic, drugs are used to treat malignancies, or cancerous growths. Drug therapy may be used alone, or in combination with other treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy. such as chemotherapeutic agents This is a list of specific pharmacologic agents that are known to be of use in the treatment of cancer, otherwise known as chemotherapeutic agents. This list is organized by "type" of agent, though the subsections are not necessarily definitive and are subject to revision. and cytokines Cytokines Chemicals made by the cells that act on other cells to stimulate or inhibit their function. Cytokines that stimulate growth are called "growth factors. , when used in combination therapy. r m CRP is currently in Phase I/II trials in Germany. Plans to initiate human trials in the U.S. are under development. Gerhard Von der Ruhr, president and chief executive officer of Criticare Systems Inc., commented, ``Based on findings by other research groups, it is important to update the investment community on Immtech's progress. We believe that their proprietary technology has the potential to make major contributions in the field of cancer and AIDS treatment.'' Analysts predict the market size for anticancer drugs to be $1 billion. Although Immtech cannot predict at this time whether or when r m CRP will be approved 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. , they are encouraged by the results to date. Criticare Systems Inc. designs, manufactures and markets cost-effective patient monitoring systems and noninvasive sensors for a wide range of hospital and alternate health care environments throughout the world. Its common stock is traded on NASDAQ's National Market System under the symbol ``CXIM.'' NOTE TO EDITORS: The ``m'' in ``r m CRP'' above should be a subscript of the ``r''. For transmission purposes, the ``r'' and the ``m'' appear as ``r m CRP''. CONTACT: Criticare Systems Inc., Milwaukee Gerhard Von der Ruhr, 414/798-8282 |
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