TSX Venture: QPT
EDMONTON, May 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Quest PharmaTech
Inc. (TSX-V: QPT) ("Quest" or the "Company"), a pharmaceutical
company developing and commercializing products for the treatment
of cancer, today announced the dosing of the first patient under
the Company's recently initiated Phase I clinical trial with SL052
Photodynamic Therapy in prostate cancer patients. The study will
evaluate the localization, safety, tolerability and preliminary
treatment response of SL052 photodynamic therapy in 18 patients
with localized prostate cancer.
SL052 is an injectible, synthetic derivative of a small
molecular weight compound called Hypocrellin, which is isolated
from a parasitic fungus that grows on bamboo trees in China. In Quest's Phase I trial, SL052 is
inactive in a patient's body until activated by laser light of
specific wavelength. Upon light activation, oxygen radicals are
formed which are known to be toxic to tumor cells. This method of
treatment is known as photodynamic therapy or PDT.
"SL052 photodynamic therapy is a promising treatment modality
for prostate cancer because of its potential to minimize collateral
damage compared to conventional treatment approaches," said Dr.
Madi R. Madiyalakan, Quest's Chief
Executive Officer. "In preclinical trials, SL052 photodynamic
therapy demonstrated an impressive safety and efficacy profile. In
this Phase I trial, our goal is to establish a safe and tolerable
dosing regime of SL052 photodynamic therapy and monitor the
patients for signals of efficacy."
The clinical trial is being conducted in two stages. In the
first stage, up to six patients undergoing radical prostatectomy
will be enrolled to study the prostate specific localization of
SL052 after intra-arterial delivery. In the second stage, the
safety and preliminary efficacy of SL052 PDT treatment with light
dose escalation will be studied in 12 patients with localized
prostate cancer. The treatment response will be monitored by MRI,
prostate biopsy and changes in baseline PSA, which is an antigen
associated with prostate disease progression.
This multi-disciplinary clinical trial is being conducted at the
Princess Margaret and Sunnybrook Hospitals in Toronto and the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton. Dr. John
Trachtenberg and Dr. Laurence
Klotz, both Professors of Surgery at the University of Toronto, and Dr. Ronald Moore, Professor of Surgery and Oncology
at the University of Alberta are the
lead investigators. Dr. Brian
Wilson, Professor of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto and interventional
radiologists Dr. Richard Owen, Dr.
John Kachura and Dr. Robyn Pugash are the co-investigators.
The American Cancer Society estimates there will be more than
192,000 new cases of prostate cancer in the U.S. in 2009, making it
the third most prevalent form of cancer behind lung and breast
cancer.
About SL052
SL052 is a member of Quest PharmaTech's SonoLight Portfolio with
the potential to reduce or eliminate the side effects associated
with currently available cancer treatment modalities: surgery,
chemotherapy and radiotherapy. While Quest's first clinical trial
of the injectable form of SL052 will demonstrate its utility in
photodynamic therapy, SL052 can also be adapted for use in
sonodynamic as well as immunophotodynamic therapy for the treatment
of prostate cancer. Its properties of activation with harmless
physical agents (light and ultrasound), combined with its ability
to generate cancer vaccines and stimulate an anti-cancer immune
response provide an opportunity to develop SL052 in a
broad-spectrum oncology arena targeting current unmet needs.
About Quest PharmaTech Inc.
Quest is a publicly traded, Alberta-based biotechnology company committed
to the development and commercialization of oncology product
candidates. It is developing a series of products for the treatment
of cancer based on its pipeline of SonoLight compounds and recently
acquired monoclonal antibodies which target certain tumor antigens
that are presented in a variety of cancers. Quest believes that by
combining these antibodies with other cancer therapies such as
chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy or radioimmuno therapy, it can
potentially further complement and enhance treatment outcomes
compared to antibody treatment alone.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Quest PharmaTech Inc.
