LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., June 09, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB:PMCB), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing cellular therapies for cancer and diabetes using its signature live-cell encapsulation technology, Cell-in-a-Box®, today provided an update from the company’s meeting with leading clinical oncologists who are interested in participating in PharmaCyte’s planned pivotal clinical trial in locally advanced pancreas cancer (LAPC). The meeting was by invitation only during this year’s 53rd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago.
During the meeting, PharmaCyte’s Chief Executive Officer, Kenneth L. Waggoner, updated the attendees on the company’s efforts to advance its pancreas cancer therapy into a pivotal clinical trial. Dr. Matthias Löhr, the Chairman of PharmaCyte’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Board and the Principal Investigator for the two previous clinical trials using PharmaCyte’s pancreas cancer therapy, along with Dr. Ronald L. Korn, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Imaging Endpoints, and Susan Tessmann, the Director of Clinical Operations at Translational Drug Development (TD2), made presentations on the progress that has been made and the path forward to the clinic. This was the first update since PharmaCyte’s pancreas cancer therapy was first introduced to a group of leading oncologists at last year’s annual meeting of ASCO. TD2 and Imaging Endpoints are the two major CROs who will be conducting the trial for PharmaCyte.
Commenting on the meeting, Mr. Waggoner said, “We were pleased to have had this unique opportunity to update the various stakeholders on the progress we have made in several aspects of our planned clinical trial. We are extremely grateful to the oncologists who attended the meeting, as well as the representatives from TD2 and Imaging Endpoints who participated in the meeting. We are particularly grateful to Dr. Matthias Löhr who travelled from Sweden to lead the discussion on the trial design and respond to questions posed by the oncologists.”
PharmaCyte continues to attract oncologists that are representatives of clinical trial sites and institutions that want to take part in the clinical trial. This year’s meeting was an opportunity to present PharmaCyte’s therapy for LAPC to the oncologists and to answer questions about the upcoming trial, the trial design, the clinical trial protocol and participation in the trial. These questions came from oncologists at major sites, known as “Hub” sites, and from related “Satellite” sites throughout the United States.
About PharmaCyte Biotech
PharmaCyte Biotech is a clinical stage 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. These encapsulated cells are implanted as close to the patient’s cancerous tumor as possible. 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 the encapsulated cells, they 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 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, store and release insulin in response to the levels of blood sugar in the human body. 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 contains forward-looking statements, which are generally statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” “will,” “outlook” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current plans, estimates, assumptions and projections, and speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement because of new information or future events, except as otherwise required by law. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond our control. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements due to the impact of numerous risk factors, many of which are discussed in more detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
More information about PharmaCyte Biotech can be found at www.PharmaCyte.com. Information may also be obtained by contacting PharmaCyte’s Investor Relations Department.
Contact: Investor Relations: PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. Investor Relations Department Telephone: 917.595.2856 Email: [email protected]
