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Prometic Reports Positive Pre-Clinical Data for PBI-1402 in Anemia Related to Renal Failure |
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02 Nov 2007 |
Data supports clinical program for anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease
MONTREAL, Canada | November 1, 2007 | ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (TSX:PLI) (“ProMetic”) announced today positive pre-clinical results for PBI-1402, the Company’s lead compound for treating anemia.
PBI-1402 was tested in the 5/6 nephrectomized rat model which simulates chronic renal failure in humans resulting in loss of kidney functions and anemia subsequent to a reduced level of erythropoietin (“EPO”) normally produced by the kidneys. The new pre-clinical results indicate that a once a day oral administration of PBI-1402 increases circulating red blood cells and hemoglobin level comparable to normal range values.
“We are very excited about these results,” commented Dr. Lyne Gagnon, Director of Research and Development, Biology, at ProMetic BioSciences Inc. She added, “This leads us to believe that PBI-1402 can play an important role in the treatment of patients with anemia related to renal disorders.”
“To date ProMetic had reported efficacy of PBI-1402 in humans and in animal models where bone marrow was suppressed by chemotherapy, another major leading cause of anemia,“ said Mr. Pierre Laurin, President and Chief Executive Officer of ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. “These results indicate for the first time the ability of PBI-1402 to reverse anemia when kidneys have failed to secrete sufficient amounts of EPO to maintain normal levels of red blood cells and hemoglobin. This opens up a large and lucrative commercial opportunity for PBI-1402, e.g. anemia of CKD patients.”
In the U.S. alone, approximately 20 million people have CKD and another 20 million are at risk to develop it. Only an estimated 600,000 patients suffering from CKD or on renal dialysis presently under nephrologists’ care are receiving the current therapy, rhEPO, representing an estimated $4 B revenue.
About PBI-1402
PBI-1402 is an orally active compound being developed to treat different types of anemia, such as CIA. Positive preliminary clinical data was announced in July 2007 for ProMetic’s PBI-1402 CIA clinical trial. ProMetic has recently expanded its clinical program for PBI-1402 into the treatment of anemia in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (“MDS”), a condition often referred to as “pre-leukemia”. Clinical trials in patients with anemia associated to chronic kidney diseases are also scheduled to commence shortly.
About ProMetic Life Sciences Inc.
ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (www.prometic.com) is a biopharmaceutical company specialized in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of a variety of commercial applications derived from its proprietary Mimetic Ligand™ technology. This technology is used in large-scale purification of biologics and the elimination of pathogens. ProMetic is also active in therapeutic drug development with the mission to bring to market effective, innovative, lower cost, less toxic products for the treatment of hematology and cancer. Its drug discovery platform is focused on replacing complex, expensive proteins with synthetic “drug-like” protein mimetics. Headquartered in Montréal (Canada), ProMetic has R&D facilities in the U.K., the U.S. and Canada, manufacturing facilities in the U.K. and business development activities in the US, Europe, Asia and in the Middle-East.
SOURCE: ProMetic Life Sciences Inc.
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