ViRexx Provides Affirmation of Clinical Progress and Anticipated Milestones; Further Solidifies Patent Position.EDMONTON, Alberta -- ViRexx Medical Corp. (TSX TSX Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE before April, 2002) TSX Transfer from Stack Pointer to Index TSX True Space Extension :VIR VIR Virtual VIR Virgin Islands (ISO Country code) VIR Virginia International Raceway VIR Vascular and Interventional Radiology VIR Vehicle Inspection Report VIR Virtual Interface (Alteon) ) a company focused on immunotherapy and embolotherapy treatments for cancer and chronic Hepatitis Chronic hepatitis Long lasting inflammation of the liver due to viruses or other causes. Mentioned in: Tube Compression of the Esophagus and Stomach chronic hepatitis B and C, today provided an update on its recent progress and expected milestones during the next 12 months. ViRexx Medical Corp. ("ViRexx") also announced the expansion of its intellectual property position with the issuance of an additional patent in Europe for its antibody targeting MUC-1 (BrevaRex(R) MAb) associated malignancies, e.g. pancreatic, non small cell lung and breast cancers. Executing on its corporate and development strategy ViRexx has transformed its pipeline over the past months from pre-clinical stage to a broader pipeline of clinical products, including a Phase III Noun 1. phase III - a large clinical trial of a treatment or drug that in phase I and phase II has been shown to be efficacious with tolerable side effects; after successful conclusion of these clinical trials it will receive formal approval from the FDA product, OvaRex(R) MAb, a therapy for the treatment of late-stage ovarian cancer ovarian cancer Malignant tumour of the ovaries. Risk factors include early age of first menstruation (before age 12), late onset of menopause (after age 52), absence of pregnancy, presence of specific genetic mutations, use of fertility drugs, and personal history of breast . "Our strategy to develop a broad based pipeline of immunotherapy and embolotherapy treatments provides multiple milestones within each of our platform technology categories," said Antoine Noujaim, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. and Chairman of ViRexx Medical Corp. "The completion of a collaborative development agreement with Protein Sciences Corporation to manufacture HepaVaxx B for clinical trials demonstrates our ability to advance multiple products through the development process. As we continue to make significant progress in the clinical development of our earlier stage products such as BrevaRex(R) MAb for breast cancer and Occlusin(TM) 50 Injection for liver cancer Liver Cancer Definition Liver cancer is a relatively rare form of cancer but has a high mortality rate. Liver cancers can be classified into two types. , we are also pleased to affirm that we remain on track to complete enrollment in the Phase III trial for OvaRex(R) MAb in early 2006." ViRexx now retains three key technology platforms including the AIT(R) (Antibody-based ImmunoTherapy) technology platform which stimulates an immune response immune response n. An integrated bodily response to an antigen, especially one mediated by lymphocytes and involving recognition of antigens by specific antibodies or previously sensitized lymphocytes. through the use of monoclonal antibodies This is a list of monoclonal antibodies, antibodies which are clones of a single parent cell. When used as medications, the generic names end in -mab (see "Nomenclature of monoclonal antibodies"). (MAbs) in a variety of cancer indications; the T-ACT(TM) (Targeted-Autothrombogenic Cancer Therapy) technology platform, which is designed to cut off the blood supply of tumors by harnessing the body's natural ability to form a clot and the Chimigen(TM) platform, which can be used both as a therapeutic product and a prophylactic prophylactic /pro·phy·lac·tic/ (pro?-fi-lak´tik) 1. tending to ward off disease; pertaining to prophylaxis. 2. an agent that tends to ward off disease. pro·phy·lac·tic n. vaccine to treat chronic viral infections. ViRexx currently has three clinical trials underway with a fourth trial planned to commence in the third quarter of 2005. ViRexx anticipates the following milestones over the coming months: - Initiation of 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 for HepaVaxx B in the third quarter of 2005 - Completion of the Occlusin(TM) 50 Injection Phase I liver cancer trial in the fourth quarter of 2005 - Selection of a HepaVaxx C clinical candidate in the fourth quarter of 2005 - Completion of enrollment in OvaRex(R) MAb Phase III trial early in 2006 ViRexx has achieved a number of milestones over the past twelve months including: - Addition of a late-stage clinical product, OvaRex(R) MAb, and oncology platform through acquisition of AltaRex Medical Corp. - Continued enrollment in the Phase III trial for OvaRex(R) MAb, in which, United Therapeutics Corporation ("United"), ViRexx's licensing partner, has enrolled 75% of its 354-patient target. - Enrollment of 21 of the targeted 40 patients in a Phase II trial conducted by "United" to study the potential of OvaRex(R) MAb therapy in conjunction with chemotherapy as a front line treatment for ovarian cancer. - Dosing of second patient in the Phase I trial for Occlusin(TM) 50 Injection in liver cancer patients. - Completion of a collaborative development agreement with Protein Sciences Corporation (PSC (Public Service Commission) Same as PUC. ), a biopharmaceutical service company, for the manufacture of ViRexx's lead Chimigen(TM) vaccine. Concurrent with these recent developments, ViRexx continues to expand its intellectual property portfolio. The European Patent Office recently notified ViRexx that it has been granted European patent number 1204423 entitled "Therapeutic Antibody against MUC-1 Antigen and methods for their use" pertaining to BrevaRex(R) MAb, a therapeutic antibody for the treatment of breast cancer. This patent protects the composition and the use of the composition in the manufacture of the BrevaRex(R) MAb in treating tumors expressing the MUC-1 antigen. About ViRexx Medical Corp. (www.ViRexx.com) ViRexx is an Edmonton, Alberta based biotechnology company focused on the development of novel therapeutic products for the treatment of cancer and chronic viral infections. ViRexx's most advanced programs include drug candidates for the treatment of ovarian cancer, chronic Hepatitis B & C & solid tumors. ViRexx's lead product, OvaRex(R) MAb, a therapy for the treatment of late-stage ovarian cancer, is currently the subject of a Phase III clinical trial Noun 1. phase III clinical trial - a large clinical trial of a treatment or drug that in phase I and phase II has been shown to be efficacious with tolerable side effects; after successful conclusion of these clinical trials it will receive formal approval from the funded by ViRexx's licensing partner United Therapeutics Corporation. The TSX has not approved or disapproved of the information contained herein. ViRexx Medical Corp. (TSX:VIR) |
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