Enzo Biochem Reports on Preclinical Study That Points to Development of New Compound for Treating Immune Mediated Diseases.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers SALVADOR DA BAHIA, Brazil--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 23, 2004 Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :ENZ) scientists at a medical conference here presented results of a preclinical study in an animal model system evaluating one of the Company's new immunemodulatory agents, glucosylceramide (GC), as a potential therapeutic for treating immune mediated diseases. GC is a compound that has previously been shown by Enzo scientists and collaborators to modulate specific immune responses by acting on certain immune regulatory cells, and therefore is an important candidate drug in the treatment of various immune mediated diseases, such as Crohn's disease Crohn's disease: see colitis. , hepatitis B Hepatitis B Definition Hepatitis B is a potentially serious form of liver inflammation due to infection by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It occurs in both rapidly developing (acute) and long-lasting (chronic) forms, and is one of the most common chronic , hepatitis C Hepatitis C Definition Hepatitis C is a form of liver inflammation that causes primarily a long-lasting (chronic) disease. Acute (newly developed) hepatitis C is rarely observed as the early disease is generally quite mild. and HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. . The Company believes that GC could be utilized either as a separate therapeutic or as an adjunct or combination treatment with the Company's various other platforms for the management of immune mediated disorders. The data relating to GC presented at a meeting of the International Association for the Study of the Liver describe a study with laboratory animals that were induced to develop experimental allergic colitis, an immune mediated disorder of the lower intestinal tract resembling Crohn's disease in humans. Four groups of mice were studied, in two of which colitis was induced. One of the colitis-induced groups received daily injections of GC, while the other was given daily injections of normal saline normal saline Physiologic saline solution, see there . The two control groups of mice, in which colitis was not induced, were also given daily injections of either GC or saline. The animals were evaluated by standard macroscopic macroscopic /mac·ro·scop·ic/ (mak?ro-skop´ik) gross (2). mac·ro·scop·ic or mac·ro·scop·i·cal adj. 1. Large enough to be perceived or examined by the unaided eye. 2. and microscopic colitis condition. The results showed a marked alleviation of the symptoms of colitis, manifested by significant improvement of macroscopic and microscopic colitis conditions, in the colitis-induced animals treated with GC. In addition, analysis of certain immune cells in the mice showed that the ratios of these cells were altered by the treatment, indicating the immune modulatory effect of the GC. "These preclinical data strongly support the view that GC has a therapeutic effect in the treatment of experimental allergic colitis in an animal model for Crohn's disease and that the compound functions by acting on certain cells that are central to regulating an immune response," said Dean L. Engelhardt, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Enzo. "The addition of this compound to our therapeutic development program further expands the scope and extent of Enzo's broad based program in developing new therapeutic products." Enzo said that a Phase I clinical trial Noun 1. phase I clinical trial - a clinical trial on a few persons to determine the safety of a new drug or invasive medical device; for drugs, dosage or toxicity limits should be obtained phase I based on these and other preclinical studies preclinical studies, n.pl a term used to describe research done before a clinical study. May be laboratory or epidemiologic research. of GC is planned. "The study is promising, and we expect to pursue it further in human trials," continued Dr. Engelhardt. About Enzo Enzo Biochem is engaged in the research, development and manufacture of innovative health care products based on molecular biology molecular biology, scientific study of the molecular basis of life processes, including cellular respiration, excretion, and reproduction. The term molecular biology was coined in 1938 by Warren Weaver, then director of the natural sciences program at the Rockefeller and genetic engineering techniques, and in providing diagnostic services diagnostic services, n.pl the imaging and laboratory capabilities available for determining the cause of an illness. to the medical community. The Company's proprietary labeling and detection products for gene sequencing and genetic analysis, with approximately 200 patents worldwide, are sold to the life sciences market throughout the world. The Company's therapeutic division is in various stages of clinical evaluation clinical evaluation Medtalk An evaluation of whether a Pt has symptoms of a disease, is responding to treatment, or is having adverse reactions to therapy of its proprietary gene medicine for HIV-1 infection and its proprietary immune regulation medicines for hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection and for Crohn's disease. The Company also holds a patent covering a method and materials for correcting point mutations or small insertions or deletions of genetic material that would allow for editing and correcting certain abnormalities in genes. For more information visit our website www.enzo.com. Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this news release may be considered "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include declarations regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results. The Company disclaims any obligations to update any forward-looking statement as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release. |
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