THE LANCET Publishes Phase IIa Study Results with Cytos Biotechnology’s Hypertension Vaccine CYT006-AngQb
SCHLIEREN (ZURICH), Switzerland, March 07, 2008 – Cytos Biotechnology AG (SWX:CYTN) today announced the publication of results from a phase IIa clinical trial with the hypertension vaccine CYT006-AngQb in the renowned medical journal THE LANCET. The data are published in the March 08, 2008 issue of the journal in the article entitled “Effect of immunization against angiotensin II with CYT006-AngQb on ambulatory blood pressure: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase IIa study”.
Martin F. Bachmann, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Cytos Biotechnology, comments: “The publication of this study is the result of basic and applied research that aims at employing our own immune system to protect us not only from infectious diseases, which is the traditional field for vaccines, but also from common chronic diseases like hypertension. The positive outcome of this study is therefore an important milestone in our quest to expand the use of vaccines into today’s most widespread chronic diseases.”
THE LANCET, which first appeared in the year 1823, is an “independent and authoritative voice in global medicine. It seeks to publish high-quality clinical trials that will alter medical practice and delivers in depth knowledge in key medical disciplines.” (www.thelancet.com)
To receive a full text copy of the present publication, please visit www.cytos.com.
About the hypertension vaccine CYT006-AngQb
CYT006-AngQb is a therapeutic vaccine in development for the treatment of hypertension1,2. It is designed to instruct the patient’s immune system to produce an antibody response against angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is a small peptide in the body and part of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which is an important regulator of blood pressure. Angiotensin II causes blood vessels to narrow, resulting in increased blood pressure. In a phase IIa study with hypertensive patients, vaccination with CYT006-AngQb has been shown to significantly reduce the mean ambulatory daytime blood pressure by induction of antibodies that bind angiotensin II. Thereby, binding of angiotensin II to its receptors and subsequent narrowing of blood vessels should be decreased. A particularly strong blood pressure reduction has been observed in the early morning hours - a crucial time of day when adverse cardiovascular events are more likely to occur than during other times of the day.
CYT006-AngQb is a first-in-class product candidate in this important indication and represents a completely novel approach to hypertension treatment. Treatment with CYT006-AngQb should allow for convenient dosing schedules and a smooth control of blood pressure due to a sustained antibody response induced by vaccination.
About hypertension
Hypertension, also termed high blood pressure, is a
medical condition where the blood pressure is chronically elevated.
Although symptomless in nature and in itself rarely an acute
problem, persistent hypertension is one of the most important
preventable causes of premature death worldwide and contributes to
around half of all cardiovascular diseases3. It is one of the major
risk factors for stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and
vascular disease, and is a leading cause of chronic renal failure.
Genetic predisposition and lifestyle habits such as inadequate
physical activity, high fat diet, and high salt intake promote high
blood pressure. Up to 30% of adults in most countries suffer from
hypertension. Despite effective and relatively inexpensive
treatment available, less than one out of four hypertensive
individuals have their blood pressure controlled
successfully4,5.
This poor overall treatment success is mainly attributed to the
symptomless nature of hypertension and the necessity for long-term
treatment with currently available medications that require at
least once daily self-administration.
References
1. Journal of Hypertension; A vaccine for hypertension based on virus-like particles: preclinical efficacy and phase I safety and immunogenicity; 2007, 25:63
2. The Lancet; Effect of immunization against angiotensin II with CYT006-AngQb on ambulatory blood pressure: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase IIa study; 2008, 371:821
3. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); The Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke, 2004
4. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA); The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure; 2003, 289:2560
5. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), Centre for Health Services Research, UK; Essential Hypertension: managing adult patients in primary care; August 2004
For further information please contact:
Cytos Biotechnology AG, Wagistrasse 25, CH-8952 Schlieren (Zurich)
Claudine Blaser, PhD
Director Corporate Communications
Phone: +41 44 733 47 20
Fax: +41 44 733 47 18
e-Mail: claudine.blaser@cytos.com
Website: www.cytos.com
About Cytos Biotechnology
Cytos Biotechnology AG is a public Swiss biotechnology company that specializes in the discovery, development and commercialization of a new class of biopharmaceutical products – the Immunodrugs™. Immunodrugs™ are intended for use in the treatment and prevention of common chronic diseases, which afflict millions of people worldwide. Immunodrugs™ are designed to instruct the patient’s immune system to produce desired therapeutic antibody or T cell responses that modulate chronic disease processes. Taking advantage of the high flexibility of its Immunodrug™ platform, Cytos Biotechnology has built a full pipeline of different Immunodrug™ candidates in various disease areas, of which six are currently in clinical development. The Immunodrug™ candidates are developed both in-house and together with Novartis and Pfizer Animal Health. Founded in 1995 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, the company is located in Schlieren (Zurich). Currently, the company has 130 employees. Cytos Biotechnology AG has been listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange (SWX:CYTN) since October 2002.
This foregoing press release may contain forward-looking statements that include words or phrases such as “aim”, “should”, “intend”, “designed” or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of significant uncertainties, including scientific, business, economic and financial factors, and therefore actual results may differ significantly from those presented. There can be no assurance that any further therapeutic entities will enter clinical trials, that clinical trial results will be predictive for future results, that therapeutic entities will be the subject of filings for regulatory approval, that any drug candidates will receive marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or equivalent regulatory authorities, or that drugs will be marketed successfully. Against the background of these uncertainties readers should not rely on forward-looking statements. The company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or adapt them to future events or developments. This document does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe or purchase any securities of Cytos Biotechnology AG.
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