ARIUS to Present at American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting
- Lead Programs CD44 and Trop-2 poster Presentations
Reveal New Findings -
TORONTO, April 4 - ARIUS Research Inc. (TSX: ARI), a biotechnology
company discovering and developing the next wave of antibody
therapeutics, today announced that new information on the
preclinical activity of two of its novel monoclonal antibodies will
be presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for
Cancer Research (AACR), which runs from April 14-18, 2007 in Los
Angeles, California. The first poster presentation will outline the
activity of ARIUS' lead anti-CD44 antibody, ARH460-16-2, against
liver cancer, a significant market in Asia and a growing concern in
North America.
CD44 is an important marker for cancer stem cells that often
survive treatment and keep growing to spread tumors. Studies of
patients with different types of cancer have shown that CD44 can be
linked to poorer chances of survival. ARIUS anti-CD44 antibodies
have previously been found to control tumor growth and improve
survival in breast and prostate cancer models.
The second poster will describe the activity of two antibodies
targeting Trop-2 in a variety of solid tumors including breast and
colon cancers plus pancreatic cancer, an area without effective
treatment options. Trop-2 is a new target for drugs in cancer.
Recently, increasing Trop-2 has been shown to
stimulate tumor growth. Studies in colon cancer patients found it
is also associated with more aggressive disease and cancer
death.
"Presenting our most recent findings for two of our lead programs,
CD44 and Trop-2, is an excellent opportunity to showcase the
potential of our products as we look for partners," said Dr. David
Young, President and CEO. "Moreover, this important preclinical
work also highlights the value and capabilities of our
FunctionFIRST(TM) platform to generate novel antibodies with
promising anti-cancer properties."
Novel antibody ARH460-16-2 recognizes an epitope of CD44 that is
highly expressed in liver cancers. Abstract 662, Section 27, Board
15, Sunday, Apr 15, 8AM - 12PM
ARH460-16-2, a functional antibody that targets CD44, has
previously been shown to have anti-tumor and survival benefits in
animal models of breast and prostate cancers. New
immunohistochemistry (IHC) studies demonstrated high levels of
ARH460-16-2 binding to primary liver tumors: 43% (21/49). The
antibody also bound more frequently to metastatic than to primary
hepatocellular carcinomas, 88% (7/8) versus 30% (11/37), and there
was a trend towards higher binding in advanced AJCC stages in
comparison with earlier stages: 0% (stage I), 12% (stage II), 50%
(stage III) and 75% (stage IV). In vivo studies are currently under
way, to assess the therapeutic effect of this antibody in an in
vivo model of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.
Functional antibodies targeting Trop-2 demonstrate in vivo efficacy
in human pancreatic and other solid tumor xenograft models.
Abstract 904, Section 5, Board 3, Sunday, Apr
15, 1PM - 5PM
Two monoclonal antibodies directed against Trop-2, AR47A6.4.2 and
AR52A301.5, have been independently generated which, in in vitro
assays, induce cytotoxicity in pancreatic, colon, lung and ovarian
cancer cell lines.
Experiments conducted using the human pancreatic BxPC-3 xenograft
model demonstrated that treatment with these antibodies resulted in
tumor growth inhibition in both prophylactic and established
models. The in vivo anti-tumor efficacy of these antibodies was
examined in models of other solid tumor cancer indications, and the
anti-tumor effect in human pancreatic cancer was substantiated by a
second model of human pancreatic cancer. With the aim of bringing
these antibodies to the clinic, the selection of an animal model
for toxicology studies was undertaken. Results from these studies
have
demonstrated a very similar expression pattern between humans and
cynomolgus monkeys, thereby providing a relevant candidate model
for pre-clinical toxicology.
The Annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research
(AACR) will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los
Angeles, California and runs from April 14-18, 2007. Additional
information about the AACR and detailed abstracts of ARIUS' poster
presentations can be found at
www.aacr.org.
About ARIUS
ARIUS is a biotechnology company discovering and developing the
next wave of antibody therapeutics. Established in 1999, ARIUS has
built a proprietary technology platform, FunctionFIRST(TM), that
rapidly identifies and selects antibodies based on their functional
ability to affect disease. This antibody generation engine has
enabled ARIUS to assemble a portfolio of more than 400 antibody
candidates. In addition to the antibodies it is developing
in-house, ARIUS has ongoing partnerships with key biotechnology and
drug development companies. ARUIS is listed on the TSX under the
symbol "ARI". For further information, visit www.ariusresearch.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, which involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results
to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
such statements. Forward-looking statements in this release
include, but are not limited to, ARIUS successfully advancing its
new product programs as well as licensing opportunities. These
statements are only predictions and actual events or results may
differ materially. Factors that could cause such actual events or
results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements to
differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by
such statements include, but are not limited to: early stage of
development; technology and product development; dependence on and
management of current and future corporate collaborations; future
capital needs; uncertainty of additional funding; no assurance of
market acceptance; dependence on proprietary technology and
uncertainty of patent protection; intense competition;
manufacturing and market uncertainties; and government regulation.
These and other factors are described in detail in ARIUS' Annual
Report, forthcoming news releases and other filings with Canadian
securities regulatory authorities available at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking
statements are based on our current expectations and ARIUS is not
obligated to update such information to reflect later events or
developments.
<<
The TSX has not
reviewed and does not accept responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of this statement.
>>
For further information: Helen Findlay, Executive Vice-President,
(416)
862-2323 ext. 223, contact@ariusresearch.com;
James Smith, Investor Relations,
(416) 815-0700 ext. 229, jsmith@equicomgroup.com
