STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept. 30, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- In an ongoing clinical Phase I study, specific tumor localization of Active Biotech's candidate drug ANYARA, has now been objectively confirmed.Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and radioactively labeled ANYARA, drug concentrations in tumor and normal tissues of individual patients have been measured for the first time, demonstrating that ANYARA localizes to tumors that express the target antigen 5T4. The study is ongoing at Paterson Institute for Cancer Research and at Christie Hospital, Manchester, UK and the first results from this study will be presented at the NCRI (National Cancer Research Institute) conference held in Birmingham, UK on October 2-5.
"An important step in the development of targeted therapies is the proof of concept of drug targeting. We have now been able to show, with an objective methodology, that ANYARA is targeted to tumor cells in cancer patients", says Tomas Leanderson, Chief Scientific Officer, Active Biotech.
"This also demonstrates the value of molecular PET imaging as an essential component in the rational development of targeted cancer therapy", says Dr Jamal Zweit, Head of Targeting and Imaging at the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research.
Another Phase I clinical dose escalation trial with ANYARA is ongoing at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, USA, at the Norwegian Radium Hospital in Oslo, Norway and at Christie Hospital, Manchester, UK.
Lund, September 29, 2005
Active Biotech AB (publ) Sven Andreasson President & CEO
Active Biotech AB is a biotechnology company focusing on research and development of pharmaceuticals. Active Biotech has a strong R&D portfolio with pipeline products focused on autoimmune/inflammatory diseases and cancer. Most advanced projects are laquinimod, an orally administered small molecule with unique immunomodulatory properties for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, as well as ANYARA for use in cancer immunotherapy with the primary indication non-small cell lung cancer. Further key projects in clinical development comprise the three orally administered compounds TASQ for prostate cancer 57-57 for SLE and RhuDex(R) for RA.
Active Biotech AB Box 724, SE-220 07 Lund Tel: +46 46-19 20 00 Fax: +46 46-19 20 50 www.activebiotech.com