New ONCONASE(R) Data on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Presented at AACR Annual Meeting
Posted on: Wednesday, 20 April 2005, 15:00 CDT
BLOOMFIELD, N.J., April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alfacell Corporation , a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for cancer and other life-threatening diseases, today announced that Intae Lee, Ph.D., Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, presented new data yesterday at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting in Anaheim, California. These studies supported earlier research showing ONCONASE(R) (ranpirnase), Alfacell's lead investigational drug candidate, to be a novel and promising treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Dr. Lee presented the following abstract: "Physiological Mechanisms of the Enhanced Cytotoxicity of Cisplatin and Carboplatin in A549 Human Lung Tumors by the RNase ONCONASE."
"Our current studies again showed the effectiveness of the cytotoxic RNase, ONCONASE, against NSCLC," stated Dr. Lee. "When ONCONASE was combined with either cisplatin or carboplatin, the chemo-sensitivity was significantly enhanced with manageable toxicity. Furthermore, in large-size tumors -- including those unsuccessfully treated with either cisplatin or carboplatin -- ONCONASE effectively showed inhibition of tumor growth, while a second treatment of cisplatin and carboplatin did not."
Dr. Lee concluded, "Thus, ONCONASE shows promise as a therapeutic alternative for commonly used chemotherapeutic agents (such as cisplatin and carboplatin) for the treatment of human NSCLC. This data also supports the prospects for Alfacell's current NSCLC trial." In February 2005, the Company initiated a multicenter, open-label, Phase I/II trial in the United States evaluating ONCONASE in patients with refractory NSCLC.
"We are pleased with the growing compendium of data supporting ONCONASE as a potent, efficacious cytotoxic agent -- even in large, resistant tumor types," stated Kuslima Shogen, Chief Executive Officer of Alfacell Corporation. "These new findings again illustrate that ONCONASE represents a truly novel and promising approach to the treatment of NSCLC, where such therapies are needed."
About NSCLC
According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide among men and women. NSCLC is the most common form of lung cancer, accounting for 80 percent of all lung cancer cases. In 2004, NSCLC accounted for approximately 160,000 deaths in the United States.
According to industry analysts, the NSCLC drug market is projected to exceed $4 billion by 2012.
About Alfacell Corporation
Alfacell Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for cancer and other life-threatening diseases, using its proprietary ribonuclease (RNase) technology platform. For more information, please visit http://www.alfacell.com/.
This press release includes statements that may constitute "forward- looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe,""estimate,""project,""expect" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, uncertainties involved in transitioning from concept to product, uncertainties involving the ability of the Company to finance research and development activities, potential challenges to or violations of patents, uncertainties regarding the outcome of clinical trials, the Company's ability to secure necessary approvals from regulatory agencies, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risks discussed in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.
Alfacell Corporation: Financial Inquiries:
Kuslima Shogen RJ Falkner & Company, Inc.
Andrew Savadelis Investor Relations Counsel
(973) 748-8082 (800) 377-9893
info@alfacell.com info@rjfalkner.com
Alfacell Corporation
CONTACT: Kuslima Shogen or Andrew Savadelis, both of AlfacellCorporation, +1-973-748-8082, info@alfacell.com; or Financial Inquiries,Investor Relations Counsel of RJ Falkner & Company, Inc., +1-800-377-9893,info@rjfalkner.com, for Alfacell Corporation
Web site: http://www.alfacell.com/
Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall
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