Thema: Presse: Promising Effects in Treating Brain Cancer
Presse: Promising Effects in Treating Brain Cancer
Stefan[a]
16.06.2004 21:42:15
BUSINESS WIRE
SciClone´s ZADAXIN Shows Promising Effects in Treating Brain Cancer in Animal Model Study
SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (SCLN) today announced the results of an animal model study evaluating its lead candidate ZADAXIN(R) in combination with carmustine (BCNU), a chemotherapy agent commonly used to treat brain tumors, as a potential therapy for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most lethal form of brain cancer. Results from the study demonstrated that treatment with ZADAXIN plus BCNU led to significantly lower tumor burdens and increased cure rates as compared to treatment with BCNU alone. These results were presented today in an abstract at the 11th Annual International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology conference in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Suzanne de la Monte, a neuropathologist and Associate Professor of Pathology, and Dr. Jack Wands, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Liver Research Center, both of Brown University School of Medicine commented that they are excited about these data "that suggest the addition of thymosin alpha 1 (ZADAXIN) could significantly enhance the effectiveness of BCNU-mediated eradication of glioblastoma."
In addition, in vitro studies demonstrated that ZADAXIN served to increase both the levels of pro-apoptosis gene expression and tumor cell sensitivity to oxidative stress, thereby allowing the chemotherapeutic agent BCNU to function more effectively in destroying the cancerous cells.
About Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2004 approximately 12,690 people will die from malignant tumors of the brain or spinal cord and 18,400 new cases will be diagnosed. Current treatment is inadequate as indicated by an average patient survival time of only 12 months. Treatment includes surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy and has shown the ability to prolong patient survival. Glioblastoma is classified as a stage 4 malignant tumor and is considered to be the most common and aggressive of primary brain tumors.
About SciClone
SciClone Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of therapeutics to treat life-threatening diseases. SciClone is currently evaluating its lead product ZADAXIN in several clinical trials, including two phase 3 hepatitis C clinical trials in the U.S., a completed phase 3 hepatitis B clinical trial in Japan, a phase 2 malignant melanoma clinical trial in Europe, two phase 2 liver cancer pilot studies in the U.S., a hepatitis C triple therapy open-label clinical trial in Mexico, and a hepatitis B combination therapy trial in Taiwan. SciClone recently announced plans for a ZADAXIN phase 3 hepatitis C triple therapy clinical trial in Europe. The company´s other principal drug development candidate is SCV-07, a potentially orally available therapeutic to treat viral and infectious diseases. For more information about SciClone, visit www.sciclone.com.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements because the experimental or clinical data described may imply certain actual results in larger patient populations. Experimental data and clinical results derived from studies with animals or a limited group of patients may not be predictive of the results of larger studies and, therefore, such experimental or clinical data is not necessarily predictive of efficacy or safety or the results of larger studies and clinical trials.
SOURCE: SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
SciClone´s ZADAXIN Shows Promising Effects in Treating Brain Cancer in Animal Model Study
SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (SCLN) today announced the results of an animal model study evaluating its lead candidate ZADAXIN(R) in combination with carmustine (BCNU), a chemotherapy agent commonly used to treat brain tumors, as a potential therapy for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most lethal form of brain cancer. Results from the study demonstrated that treatment with ZADAXIN plus BCNU led to significantly lower tumor burdens and increased cure rates as compared to treatment with BCNU alone. These results were presented today in an abstract at the 11th Annual International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology conference in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Suzanne de la Monte, a neuropathologist and Associate Professor of Pathology, and Dr. Jack Wands, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Liver Research Center, both of Brown University School of Medicine commented that they are excited about these data "that suggest the addition of thymosin alpha 1 (ZADAXIN) could significantly enhance the effectiveness of BCNU-mediated eradication of glioblastoma."
In addition, in vitro studies demonstrated that ZADAXIN served to increase both the levels of pro-apoptosis gene expression and tumor cell sensitivity to oxidative stress, thereby allowing the chemotherapeutic agent BCNU to function more effectively in destroying the cancerous cells.
About Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2004 approximately 12,690 people will die from malignant tumors of the brain or spinal cord and 18,400 new cases will be diagnosed. Current treatment is inadequate as indicated by an average patient survival time of only 12 months. Treatment includes surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy and has shown the ability to prolong patient survival. Glioblastoma is classified as a stage 4 malignant tumor and is considered to be the most common and aggressive of primary brain tumors.
About SciClone
SciClone Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of therapeutics to treat life-threatening diseases. SciClone is currently evaluating its lead product ZADAXIN in several clinical trials, including two phase 3 hepatitis C clinical trials in the U.S., a completed phase 3 hepatitis B clinical trial in Japan, a phase 2 malignant melanoma clinical trial in Europe, two phase 2 liver cancer pilot studies in the U.S., a hepatitis C triple therapy open-label clinical trial in Mexico, and a hepatitis B combination therapy trial in Taiwan. SciClone recently announced plans for a ZADAXIN phase 3 hepatitis C triple therapy clinical trial in Europe. The company´s other principal drug development candidate is SCV-07, a potentially orally available therapeutic to treat viral and infectious diseases. For more information about SciClone, visit www.sciclone.com.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements because the experimental or clinical data described may imply certain actual results in larger patient populations. Experimental data and clinical results derived from studies with animals or a limited group of patients may not be predictive of the results of larger studies and, therefore, such experimental or clinical data is not necessarily predictive of efficacy or safety or the results of larger studies and clinical trials.
SOURCE: SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Stefan[a]
