RenaZorb, Phosphate Lowering Drug for Kidney Dialysis Patients, Shows Promising Laboratory Results.Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers RENO, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 25, 2002 RenaZorb's Laboratory Tests Suggest Lower Dosage, Rapid Phosphate Binding and Possibly Fewer Side Effects Side effects Effects of a proposed project on other parts of the firm. Altair Nanotechnologies (Nasdaq:ALTI) announced that laboratory testing has shown that its new pharmaceutical, RenaZorb(TM), developed for the removal of phosphate ions from patients with end stage renal disease Renal disease Kidney disease. Mentioned in: Glycogen Storage Diseases hypertension High blood pressure Cardiovascular disease An abnormal ↑ systemic arterial pressure, corresponding to a systolic BP of > 160 mm Hg undergoing kidney dialysis Dialysis, Kidney Definition Dialysis treatment replaces the function of the kidneys, which normally serve as the body's natural filtration system. , will require a lower dose than existing or proposed pharmaceuticals in this therapeutic class. The company is in advanced discussions with at least two major pharmaceutical companies to license RenaZorb. "Our laboratory testing using phosphate containing simulated stomach fluid suggests that the amount of RenaZorb required for phosphate control in humans is conservatively projected to be in the range of 1.0 and 2.0 grams per day," commented Altair Nanotechnologies President Dr. Rudi E. Moerck. "This dosage would be divided into three tablets, one of which would be taken with each meal. Each tablet would contain between 0.33 and 0.66 grams of RenaZorb. It is possible to formulate RenaZorb as a chewable tablet. "This proposed dosage amount for RenaZorb is up to 60% lower than the only existing FDA-approved drug for phosphate removal and at least 30% to 50% lower than a lanthanum lanthanum (lăn`thənəm) [Gr.,=to lie hidden], metallic chemical element; symbol La; at. no. 57; at. wt. 138.9055; m.p. about 920°C;; b.p. about 3,460°C;; sp. gr. 6.19 at 25°C;; valence +3. containing phosphate lowering drug that has already been submitted to 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. for approval," said Moerck. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. data provided by AnorMed, the total market for drugs to control phosphate in kidney dialysis patients is projected to be $400 million to $600 million annually and may grow to more than $1 billion if issues such as drug cost, patient compliance and high dosage requirements are properly addressed. Altair believes that all these issues will be positively addressed with RenaZorb. The proposed daily dosage of Altair's RenaZorb is considerably less than that of the only approved non-calcium containing phosphate reducing drug, Renagel(TM), developed by Genzyme (GENZ). RenaZorb will probably not require the simultaneous intake of considerable amounts of water, as is required for Renagel. The calculated dosage for RenaZorb is also lower than that proposed for lanthanum carbonate lanthanum carbonate Fosrenol Pharmacologic class: Phosphate binder Therapeutic class: Renal and genitourinary agent Pregnancy risk category C Actiontetra hydrate hydrate (hī`drāt), chemical compound that contains water. A common hydrate is the familiar blue vitriol, a crystalline form of cupric sulfate. Chemically, it is cupric sulfate pentahydrate, CuSO4·5H2O. , a new drug that has been submitted to the FDA for approval.RenaZorb is a nanoparticle sized lanthanum based ceramic material with a large surface area. The drug was specifically designed with a large surface area to allow rapid reaction with phosphate ions. The resulting RenaZorb/phosphate compound formed in the gastrointestinal tract gastrointestinal tract n. The part of the digestive system consisting of the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Gastrointestinal tract when RenaZorb reacts with phosphate is highly insoluble. Moerck noted: "Our research has shown that the very rapid reaction of RenaZorb with phosphate in stomach fluid and lower total dosage of drug that is required to remove a given amount of phosphate, will probably result in much lower serum lanthanum levels than those achieved with the referenced compound lanthanum carbonate tetra hydrate. RenaZorb reacts with phosphate ions in simulated stomach fluid approximately two times faster than lanthanum carbonate tetra hydrate. "RenaZorb shows no visible signs of gas formation when placed into simulated stomach acid containing phosphate, even at a pH of 1.0 (one). In comparison, lanthanum carbonate tetra hydrate, which has already been submitted for approval to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. FDA for phosphate control, shows immediate evolution of carbon dioxide evolution of carbon dioxide n. An expression of the rate at which carbon dioxide is produced by the body, usually given as the microliters of carbon dioxide produced in 1 hour by 1 milligram dry weight of tissue. when exposed to the same stomach acid conditions. "The characteristics of RenaZorb and its behavior in stomach fluid containing phosphate suggest good gastrointestinal tolerance and lower overall lanthanum solubility," continued Moerck. Altair Nanotechnologies is scaling up its production process for making RenaZorb to provide enough material for sampling and in vitro in vitro /in vi·tro/ (in ve´tro) [L.] within a glass; observable in a test tube; in an artificial environment. in vi·tro adj. In an artificial environment outside a living organism. animal testing Animal testing or animal research refers to the use of animals in experiments. It is estimated that 50 to 100 million vertebrate animals worldwide [4][5][6] purposes. Altair Nanotechnologies has already executed six confidentiality agreements with major pharmaceutical companies with business interests in kidney dialysis and has made technical presentations to four of these companies. The company is offering evaluation licenses on either an exclusive or a non-exclusive basis depending on both short-term and long-term financial arrangements. The company is also considering full licensing arrangements, bypassing the evaluation license stage. Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. Nanotechnology is rapidly emerging as a unique industry sector. Altair Nanotechnologies is positioning itself through product innovation within this emerging industry to become a leading supplier of nanomaterials and technology worldwide. Altair owns a proprietary technology for making nanocrystalline materials of unique quality both economically and in large quantities. The company is currently developing special nanomaterials with potential applications in pharmaceuticals, fuel cells, solar cells, advanced energy storage devices, thermal spray coatings, catalysts, cosmetics, paints and environmental remediation. For additional information on Altair's nanoparticle materials, visit www.altairnano.com. Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements, as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the "safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. " provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995, may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the company's actual results and performance in future periods to be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by the forward-looking statements in this release. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the possibilities that the company may be unable to attract additional customers, funded research opportunities, product development opportunities or ventures through its sales and branding campaign, that the company may never earn sufficient revenues to be profitable and that the company's nanoparticle products may not be integrated into any major market groups and products, in addition to other risks identified in the company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. , as filed with the SEC. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements found herein to reflect any changes in company expectations or results or any change in events. |
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