LAGUNA HILLS, CA 18, 2019 (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 its partner, Austrianova Singapore (Austrianova), has successfully completed the second and final GMP manufacturing run to produce PharmaCyte’s clinical trial product. The product is now ready for “release testing.” The data from the “release testing” of both manufacturing runs will be included in an Investigational New Drug application (IND) and submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to support PharmaCyte’s planned clinical trial in patients with locally advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer (LAPC).
The capsules, which are fully filled with genetically modified live cells, were immediately put into PharmaCyte’s clinical trial syringes and then frozen. Austrianova has shipped a representative sample of the frozen syringes to third-party laboratories in Europe to undergo “release testing” related to the “safety” of the product. Austrianova will conduct “release testing” in-house related to the “functionality” of the encapsulated cells.
PharmaCyte’s Chief Executive Officer, Kenneth L. Waggoner, commented, “Today is a great day at PharmaCyte. We have cleared what was a major hurdle for us and have completed our most impactful milestone to date. Successfully completing two manufacturing runs is a milestone that has now been met as we progress toward our submission of an IND to the FDA so we can begin our clinical trial in LAPC.
“Our GMP consultant, cGMP Validation, has informed us that while two successful manufacturing runs are not required by the FDA to request a Phase 2b clinical trial, it could go a long way in demonstrating to the FDA that our manufacturing process is robust and reproducible – manufacturing qualities that are highly embraced by the FDA.”
To learn more about PharmaCyte’s pancreatic cancer treatment and how it works inside the body to treat locally advanced inoperable pancreatic cancer, we encourage you to watch the company’s documentary video complete with medical animations at: https://pharmacyte.com/Cancer
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 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 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]
