Cytel Receives Patent On Lead Therapeutic Compound for Treating Inflammatory and Related Conditions.SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 31, 1998--Cytel Corporation (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :CYTL) today announced that it has received a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office The United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO or USPTO) is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides patent protection to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property (No. 5,753,631) for Cylexin(R), its lead therapeutic compound, for the treatment of inflammatory and related conditions. The patent specifically covers the use of Cylexin and related compounds for reducing or controlling inflammation, and for treating inflammatory disease Noun 1. inflammatory disease - a disease characterized by inflammation disease - an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis - an acute inflammatory disease occurring in the intestines of premature infants; processes and other conditions mediated by cellular adhesion. Cytel is currently conducting a Phase II/III clinical trial using Cylexin for the prevention of reperfusion injury reperfusion injury damage to renal blood vessels during periods of hypotension does not become apparent until reperfusion occurs in the recovery stage of the vascular incident. in newborn infants undergoing cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass cardiopulmonary bypass n. A procedure to circulate and oxygenate the blood during heart surgery involving the diversion of blood from the heart and lungs through a heart-lung machine and the return of oxygenated blood to the aorta. , according to Virgil Thompson, Cytel's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe that Cylexin could be a valuable treatment for a variety of inflammatory conditions which occur in conjunction with stroke, organ transplantation The transfer of organs such as the kidneys, heart, or liver from one body to another. The transplantation of human organs has become a common medical procedure. Typical organs transplanted are the kidneys, heart, liver, pancreas, cornea, skin, bones, and lungs. and acute trauma," said Thompson. "We are pleased to receive broad protection for the use of Cylexin in this disease segment and look forward to forming new corporate partnerships to establish its usefulness for additional indications." Cytel's Phase II/III trial for the use of Cylexin for preventing reperfusion injury in infants was initiated in December 1997 at leading centers for pediatric pediatric /pe·di·at·ric/ (pe?de-at´rik) pertaining to the health of children. pe·di·at·ric adj. Of or relating to pediatrics. cardiac surgery in the United States and Canada. Results from a Phase II trial of 17 patients, completed in September 1997 at Boston Children's Hospital, showed that Cylexin was well tolerated and has the potential to accelerate post-operative recovery of infants. The Company anticipates that it will complete enrollment in the current trial with 250 infants under the age of 45 days by late 1998 or early 1999. Reperfusion injury is an acute inflammatory cascade that occurs when blood supply to tissues is cut off and restored, such as occurs in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Cylexin is a selectin inhibitor compound designed to block white cell adhesion, one of the primary steps in the inflammatory cascade of events responsible for causing several inflammatory diseases and similar inflammatory conditions. Cytel has discovered cell adhesion inhibitors for treatment of acute and chronic inflammation chronic inflammation n. Inflammation that may have a rapid or slow onset but is characterized primarily by its persistence and lack of clear resolution; it occurs when the tissues are unable to overcome the effects of the injuring agent. , and manufactures bioactive bi·o·ac·tive adj. Of or relating to a substance that has an effect on living tissue. bioactive having an effect on or eliciting a response from living tissue. carbohydrates for use in medical and consumer products. Epimmune Inc., its subsidiary, is focused on the discovery and development of a new generation of safer, more potent vaccines for the prevention and treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect management's current views of future events. Actual results may differ materially from the above forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors, including but not limited to the risks associated with maintaining and protecting the Company's proprietary technologies, successfully negotiating and completing definitive agreements for any corporate collaboration, achievement of research and development objectives by the Company and any collaborator, the timing and cost of conducting human clinical trials, the regulatory approval process, and the possibility that testing may reveal undesirable and unintended side effects Side effects Effects of a proposed project on other parts of the firm. or other characteristics that may prevent or limit the commercial use of proposed products. These factors are more fully discussed in Cytel's most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q.
CONTACT: Cytel Corporation
Virgil Thompson, 619/552-3000
or
Mentus, Inc.
Linda Seaton, 619/455-5500 ext. 133
Kelly Steeves, 619/455-5500 ext. 129
Timothy Scott, 619/455-5500 ext. 132
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