LAGUNA HILLS, CA July 29, 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 the COVID-19 Molecular tests it has licensed from Hai Kang Life Corporation Limited (Hai Kang) have received the CE mark. The CE mark was given to the RT-PCR and ERT-PCR tests.
The Declaration of Conformity for the COVID-19 tests confirms that the tests meet the Essential Requirements of the European Community’s In-Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Directive (IVDD 98/79/EC), permitting export and sales of the product as an IVD in the European Union member countries.
The Chief Executive Officer of PharmaCyte Biotech, Kenneth L. Waggoner, stated, “The CE mark will now allow the tests to be marketed in the European Union. We are also working with Hai Kang to update our EUA submission with the Pool Testing Protocol released by the FDA in early June.”
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.” The plan is to use this technology as a platform upon which therapies for several types of cancer and diabetes could be 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 should 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 should result in little to no treatment related side effects.
PharmaCyte’s therapy for Type 1 diabetes and insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes involves a human liver 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 also considering the use of genetically altered stem cells to treat diabetes. The cell encapsulation will be done using the Cell-in-a-Box® technology. Once the encapsulated cells are implanted in a diabetic patient, we anticipate they should function as a “bio-artificial pancreas” for purposes of insulin production. Until the FDA allows PharmaCyte to commence the clinical trial described in its IND involving LPAC, PharmaCyte is not spending any further resources developing this program.
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 that Agreement, and the timing and commencement of our planned Phase 2b clinical trial in LAPC, which is subject to IND approval. 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, our ability to submit and get our IND approved by the FDA, 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: Telephone: 917.595.2856 Email: [email protected]
