• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Nastech Awarded Patent Covering Treatment and Prevention of Breast Cancer

Posted on: Tuesday, 31 May 2005, 09:00 CDT

BOTHELL, Wash., May 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nastech Pharmaceutical Company Inc. today announced that it has been awarded U.S. patent No. 6,894,026, entitled, "Long-acting Oxytocin Analogues for the Treatment and Prevention of Breast Cancer and Psychiatric Disorders." The patent covers methods for the treatment of breast cancer by the administration of long-acting analogues of the peptide hormone oxytocin. The patent contains 11 claims and the inventor is Steven C. Quay.

"This patent provides Nastech with broad protection for methods to deliver oxytocin analogues for the treatment of breast cancer, with claims that include the intranasal delivery of these peptides through the application of Nastech's innovative nasal delivery technology," said Steven C. Quay, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. "This demonstrates the continued successful application of our nasal delivery technologies for the delivery of a range of therapeutics, including peptides and other larger molecules, in a non-invasive, fast-acting and direct delivery route."

Research has demonstrated that the hormone peptide oxytocin inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells, suggesting its potential role as a preventative treatment for breast cancer. Carbetocin, a synthetic analog of oxytocin, has a longer half-life and apparent increased metabolic stability compared to oxytocin. The patent covers the application of carbetocin as well as other long-acting oxytocin analogues. Nastech will be examining the next steps for this opportunity.

ABOUT NASTECH

We are a pharmaceutical company developing innovative products based on proprietary molecular biology-based drug delivery technologies. We and our collaboration partners, are developing products for multiple therapeutic areas including inflammatory conditions, obesity and osteoporosis. Additional information about Nastech is available at http://www.nastech.com/.

NASTECH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

Statements made in this press release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Federal Securities laws that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the ability of Nastech to obtain additional funding; (ii) the ability of Nastech to attract and/or maintain manufacturing, research, development and commercialization partners; (iii) Nastech's and/or a partner's ability to successfully complete product research and development, including preclinical and clinical studies and commercialization; (iv) Nastech's and/or a partner's ability to obtain required governmental approvals; and (v) Nastech's and/or a partner's ability to develop and commercialize products that can compete favorably with those of competitors. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements are contained in Nastech's most recent periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Nastech assumes no obligation to update and supplement forward-looking statements because of subsequent events.

CONTACTS:

Nastech

Ed Bell

Senior Investor Relations Manager

(425) 908-3639

ir@nastech.com

Noonan Russo

Matthew Haines (Investors)

(212) 845-4235

Burns McClellan

Kathy Jones, Ph.D. (Media)

(212) 213-0006

Nastech Pharmaceutical Company Inc.

CONTACT: Ed Bell, Senior Investor Relations Manager of Nastech,+1-425-908-3639, or ir@nastech.com; or Matthew Haines, Investors of NoonanRusso, +1-212-845-4235; or Kathy Jones, Ph.D., Media of Burns McClellan,+1-212-213-0006

Web site: http://www.nastech.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

More News in this Category