Liver Phase I Abstract to Be Presented At WCIO 2008 & Best Of ASCO
This annual WCIO (World Congress of Interventional Oncology) conference is partnering with the Best of ASCO in 2008 to present novel therapies in the emerging field of interventional oncology in a unique multidisciplinary meeting. This conference will be held from June 22 - 25, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, CA. http://www.wcio2008.com/
The abstract presentation, titled "Phase I Dose Escalation Study of Thermally Sensitive Liposomal Doxorubicin (ThermoDox(R)) in combination with Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of Primary and Metastatic tumors to the liver: Interim Report" will be delivered by Dr. Thanjavur S. Ravikumar, MD Professor and Chairman, Department of Surgery, North Shore Hospital, Albert Einstein Medical School. Dr. Ravikumar commented, "I am impressed with the toxicity profile and the pharmacokinetic data, supporting our objectives. Even in the Phase 1 study, I am pleased to observe impressive early responses in a variety of liver tumors. We look forward to presenting our results to this distinguished community, and to have an audience to both Interventional Oncology and ASCO. The acceptance for both Oral and Poster presentation is a testament to the uniqueness of our clinical study." Dr. Ravikumar concluded, "In addition to completing this Phase I study, our site at North Shore Hospital is also the first center open in the Phase III study in the USA, and we are currently enrolling patients."
Michael H. Tardugno, Celsion's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented "This Phase I confirmation study with our single vial formulation re-validates our proof of concept in liver cancer and further confirms our single vial formulation with which we plan to enter the market. In addition, the selection for both Oral and Poster presentation demonstrates the unique application that ThermoDox plays in the liver cancer community. We look forward to the eventual publication of the results from this study, and also look forward to Dr. Ravikumar's leadership in the Phase III study of ThermoDox for hepatocellular carcinoma."
Mr. Tardugno concluded, "Dr. Ravikumar's abstract presentation will be the fourth time this year that Phase I results from ThermoDox trials have been presented at a major medical conference. In February, Dr. Ronnie T. Poon, Professor of Surgery at the Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong presented our Phase I liver study results at the IHBPA conference in Mumbai, India at the Oral Paper Awards Session. In March, Dr. Bradford J. Wood's abstract titled "Imaging Features in Patients undergoing Liver RFA plus Heat Deployed Nanoparticles" was selected for Oral presentation at Society for Interventional Radiology. Also in March, Dr. Zeljko Vujaskovic, Associate Clinical Professor at Duke University, on behalf of Dr. Ellen Jones, presented interim progress and evidence of safety and suggested efficacy from our second indication under study, Recurrent Chest Wall breast cancer, at ICHO Conference in Munich, Germany. It's clear to me that the medical community's interest in the progress of our trials and the promise suggested by reported clinical activity is consistent with the potential for ThermoDox to provide an effective treatment for these two difficult-to-treat cancers."
About ThermoDox(R): ThermoDox(R) is Celsion's proprietary heat-sensitive liposomal encapsulation of doxorubicin, an approved and frequently used anti-cancer drug used in the treatment of various cancers. Localized heat (at 40-42 degrees Celsius and above) releases the entrapped doxorubicin from the liposome. This delivery technology enables high concentrations of doxorubicin to be deposited preferentially in a targeted tumor.
About Celsion: Celsion is dedicated to the development and commercialization of oncology drugs including tumor-targeting treatments using focused heat energy in combination with heat-activated drug delivery systems. Celsion has research, license or commercialization agreements with leading institutions such as the National Institutes of Health, Duke University Medical Center, University of Hong Kong, Cleveland Clinic, North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System.
For more information on Celsion, visit our website: http://www.celsion.com.
Celsion wishes to inform readers that forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, unforeseen changes in the course of research and development activities and in clinical trials by others; possible acquisitions of other technologies, assets or businesses; possible actions by customers, suppliers, competitors, regulatory authorities; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact
Cameron Associates
Paul G. Henning, 212-554-5462
phenning@cameronassoc.com
Posted: April 2008
