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Cangene receives continued funding from Canadian government for development of therapy for acute radiation syndrome |
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11 Feb 2006 |
TORONTO and WINNIPEG, Canada | Feb 10, 2006 | Cangene today announces that it will receive $2.0-million funding from the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Research & Technology Initiative (CRTI) for further development of a new therapy, PEG-GM-CSF, for treating acute radiation syndrome. PEG-GM-CSF is a chemically modified version of the Company's Leucotropin(R), a proprietary version of the white-blood-cell stimulating protein, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). GM-CSF is a protein that stimulates the production of certain infection-fighting white blood cells, which can be depleted by radiation exposure thereby leaving patients susceptible to harmful infections. An earlier CRTI-funded project indicated that PEG modification of zeucotropin(R) was effective in lengthening the duration of GM-CSF activity, which could mean less frequent dosing is required. Radiation overexposure is considered a potential threat to civilian and military personnel in various circumstances such as high levels of X-ray exposure, nuclear plant incidents and terrorist activity.
"This project is exciting for two reasons. We are developing a potential treatment for radiation syndrome and also developing the PEGylation technology that potentially can be extended to making other second-generation protein products," said Dr. John Langstaff, president and chief executive officer of Cangene Corporation.
Leucotropin(R) is the most advanced product in Cangene's recombinant protein product pipeline. It has been submitted for regulatory review in
Canada for use in enhancing recovery of certain white blood cells in patients with Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma following stem cell transplantation. In addition to radiation exposure, the white blood cells stimulated by GM-CSF can be depleted by drugs used in treating cancer and certain other conditions.
Cangene will partner with Health Canada's Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response Division on this project. The CRTI is the Canadian Science and Technology community's contribution to national security with respect to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents. It is led by Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), an agency of the Department of National Defence that responds to the scientific and technological needs of the Canadian Forces (CF). Its mission is to ensure that the CF remains technologically prepared and operationally relevant. With a broad scientific program, DRDC actively collaborates with industry, international allies, academia, other government departments and the national security community.
About Cangene
Cangene is one of Canada's largest biopharmaceutical companies. It was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Cangene carries out research and development in Mississauga, Ontario and Winnipeg. It uses proprietary manufacturing processes to produce plasma-derived and recombinant therapeutic proteins. In addition to its four approved products, Cangene has another product that has been submitted for regulatory review and a significant drug development program. Cangene is also expanding its contract research and manufacturing business using its drug-manufacturing expertise and the resources of Chesapeake Biological Laboratories, Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary). The Company has manufacturing facilities in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Baltimore, Maryland. Cangene's website, www.cangene.com, includes product and investor information, including past news releases. Chesapeake' website is www.cblinc.com.
SOURCE: Cangene. Inc |
