RECEPTAGEN INITIATES CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT OF GROWTH BLOCKERS-DRUG CANDIDATE DEMONSTRATES "PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH" IN CANCER CELLS.SEATTLE, WASH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FEBRUARY 15, 1995--RECEPTAGEN LTD LTD 1 Laron-type dwarfism 2 Leukotriene D 3 Long-term depression, see there 4. Long-term disability .(TSE See Tokyo Stock Exchange. TSE 1. See Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). 2. See Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE). : RCG ) Receptagen Ltd. today announced it has begun formal clinical development of its first "growth blocker" drug, as a result of recent company research demonstrating selective induction of programmed cell death pro·grammed cell death n. See apoptosis. programmed cell death proposed system of cell death, often including poly(ADP)-ribosylation, ensures that a cell will not survive if it is so badly damaged that its recovery would harm the , or "apoptosis", in cancer cells. Receptagen is developing growth blocker drugs, a new class of minimally toxic biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases marked by uncontrolled cell proliferation. With recent efficacy shown in cells, it has initiated development of the first generation of growth blockers that potentially lack the toxicities and immunosuppression immunosuppression Suppression of immunity with drugs, usually to prevent rejection of an organ transplant. Its aim is to allow the recipient to accept the organ permanently with no unpleasant side effects. of chemotherapy. We have demonstrated for the first time that the simple depletion of vitamin B12 - an essential enzyme co-factor for cell proliferation, can trigger programmed cell death in cancer cells without exposure to toxic chemotherapeutic drugs or radiation," said Dr. A. Charles Morgan, Jr., Ph.D., president and chief technical officer of Receptagen. Receptagen's therapeutic approach involves growth blocker drugs designed to selectively deplete cancer cells of vitamin B12, an essential nutrient for cell growth and division. Vitamin B12 depletion is a treatment approach that has been used to successfully treat patients with acute leukemia. But until now, drugs capable of B12 depletion have not been in existence. "We have designed monoclonal antibodies that target the B12-carrier protein, transcobalamin II", explained Dr. Morgan. "We have shown that these special antibodies can block the B12 carrier from delivering the essential cofactor cofactor An atom, organic molecule, or molecular group that is necessary for the catalytic activity (see catalysis) of many enzymes. A cofactor may be tightly bound to the protein portion of an enzyme and thus be an integral part of its functional structure, or it may into the cell, thereby depleting cells of vitamin B12; halting proliferation and triggering programmed cell death in cancer cells." B12-inhibiting monoclonal antibodies have been undergoing feasibility evaluation at research centers under the Receptagen Research Network. One class of inhibitory antibody, reacting to the receptor binding site of the carrier protein for vitamin B12, will be the first form of growth blockers to undergo clinical testing. This group has been shown to be the most potent in triggering death of cancer cells. Prior to entry into clinical trials, the antibodies will undergo "humanization Humanization Fusing the constant and variable framework region of one or more human immunoglobulins with the binding region of an animal immunoglobulin, done to reduce human reaction against the fusion antibody. Mentioned in: Alemtuzumab " to reduce the potential for an adverse reaction to the administered antibody. Receptagen has already initiated clinical development of an inhibitor of apoptosis The Inhibitors of Apoptosis (IAP) are a family of functionally- and structurally-related proteins, originally characterized in Baculovirus, which serve as endogenous inhibitors of programmed cell death (apoptosis). for the treatment of the accelerated cell death of CD-4 T-cells induced by the 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. virus in AIDS. The drug is based on Coenzyme Q10, an important co-factor that regulates the production of energy by the body's cells. Receptagen Ltd. is a biotechnology company operating through its wholly owned Seattle subsidiaries, Receptagen Corp. and Ryan Pharmaceuticals, to develop proprietary "growth blocker" drugs and Coenzyme Q10 as regulators of cell death in the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases. In Western Canada, Receptagen distributes pharmaceutical drugs through its division, VWD VWD von Willebrand's disease. Distributors, based in Vancouver. CONTACT: In Canada contact: Gail Thurston 1-800-558-8846 (Canada and U.S. Toll Free) or In the U.S. contact: Greg Witchel 212/983-1060 The Toronto Stock Exchange Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE) Canada's largest stock exchange, trading approximately 1,200 company stocks and 33 options. has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein. REPEATS: New York 212-575-8822 or 800-221-2462; Boston 617-330-5311 or |
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