LAGUNA HILLS, CA May 4, 2020 (BUSINESS NEWSWIRE) – PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB: PMCB), a biotechnology company focused on developing cellular therapies for cancer and diabetes using its signature live-cell encapsulation technology, Cell-in-a-Box®, announced today that it has completed a medical manual that is pivotal to the completion of its Investigational New Drug application (IND) filing. The manual, “Angiography Manual – Transarterial Chemoinfusion of the Pancreas” (Angiography Procedure Manual), will be used to guide Interventional Radiologists on the placement of a catheter that begins at the femoral artery in the leg and ends as close to the pancreatic tumor as possible in patients participating in PharmaCyte’s planned Phase 2b clinical trial. By following the directions in this manual, Interventional Radiologists will be able to precisely place the Cell-in-a-Box® capsules inside patients.
The Angiography Manual was prepared by a team of medical professionals. The initial version was prepared by Dr. David H. O’Leary, an Interventional Radiologist and Senior Vice President of the Medical Department at Medpace (PharmaCyte’s Contract Research Organization (CRO)). Dr. O’Leary’s version was then reviewed by Dr. Manuel Hidalgo, the Principal Investigator (PI) for PharmaCyte’s planned Phase 2b clinical trial for locally advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer (LAPC) and Dr. Matthias Löhr, who was the PI for the first two clinical trials using PharmaCyte’s treatment for LAPC.
Dr. Jens-Christian Kröeger, who was the Interventional Radiologist during the two earlier clinical trials provided valuable assistance in the preparation of the Angiography Manual, and Dr. Löhr was able to work side-by-side with Dr. Kröeger as the angiography procedure was performed during those trials. A final review of the Angiography Manual was performed by Dr. Bradley Pua, an Interventional Radiologist with Weill Cornell Medicine and a colleague of Dr. Hidalgo.
Kenneth L. Waggoner, the Chief Executive Officer of PharmaCyte Biotech, stated, “We are deeply indebted to all of the physicians who contributed to the preparation of the Angiography Procedure Manual. This very important medical document makes up a crucial component of our IND and gets us one step closer to submitting our IND to the U.S. FDA, as we’re diligently completing the last remaining items for that submission.”
About PharmaCyte Biotech
PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. (PharmaCyte) is a biotechnology company developing cellular therapies for cancer and diabetes based upon a proprietary cellulose-based live cell encapsulation technology known as “Cell-in-a-Box®.” This technology will be used as a platform upon which therapies for several types of cancer and diabetes are being developed.
PharmaCyte’s therapy for cancer involves encapsulating genetically engineered human cells that convert an inactive chemotherapy drug into its active or “cancer-killing” form. For pancreatic cancer, these encapsulated cells are implanted in the blood supply to the patient’s tumor as close as possible to the site of the tumor. Once implanted, a chemotherapy drug that is normally activated in the liver (ifosfamide) is given intravenously at one-third the normal dose. The ifosfamide is carried by the circulatory system to where the encapsulated cells have been implanted. When the ifosfamide flows through pores in the capsules, the live cells inside act as a “bio-artificial liver” and activate the chemotherapy drug at the site of the cancer. This “targeted chemotherapy” has proven effective and safe to use in past clinical trials and results in little to no treatment related side effects.
PharmaCyte’s therapy for Type 1 diabetes and insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes involves encapsulating a human cell line that has been genetically engineered to produce and release insulin in response to the levels of blood sugar in the human body. PharmaCyte is developing the use of genetically modified liver cells and stem cells, as well as beta islet cells, to treat diabetes. The encapsulation will be done using the Cell-in-a-Box® technology. Once the encapsulated cells are implanted in a diabetic patient, they will function as a “bio-artificial pancreas” for purposes of insulin production.
Safe Harbor
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that express the current beliefs and expectations of the management of PharmaCyte, including statements regarding the viability of the technology that is the subject to the Hai Kang Agreement, our ability to gain the necessary approvals to market and commercialize Products under the Agreement, and the timing and commencement of our first Phase 2b clinical trial. Any statements contained herein that do not describe historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect our actual results include our ability to raise the necessary capital to fund our operations and to find partners to supplement our capabilities and resources, as well as such other factors that are included in the periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q that we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise
More information about PharmaCyte can be found at www.PharmaCyte.com. Information may also be obtained by contacting PharmaCyte’s Investor Relations Department.
Contact:
Dr. Gerald W. Crabtree
Investor Relations:
PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc.
Investor Relations Department
Telephone: 917.595.2856
Email: [email protected]
