Bio Screening Industry News

OTTAWA, May 17 /CNW Telbec/ - PharmaGap Inc. (TSX-V: GAP) (”PharmaGap” or
“the Company”) today announced the formal completion of acute toxicity testing
in mice for its lead cancer drug, PhG alpha 1. Testing took place in Ottawa at
accredited facilities operated by the Institute of Biological Sciences, part
of the National Research Council of Canada, under the supervision of an
independent veterinarian. The drug was delivered to test groups of mice by
intravenous injection, orally and by direct application to the skin.
PharmaGap’s novel lead cancer drug, PhG alpha 1, is designed to
selectively target and inhibit the activity of Protein Kinase C alpha (PKC
alpha) in cancer cells. As verified by numerous researchers worldwide, there
is a clear link between the over-expression of PKC alpha and certain solid
tumours. In bench studies (in vitro) undertaken by PharmaGap researchers, PhG
alpha 1 has demonstrated effectiveness in controlling growth and killing
cancer cells that have aberrant levels of PKC alpha, including non-small cell
lung cancer, breast cancer (HER+) and neuroblastoma (a children’s cancer). The
drug also has shown effectiveness in reducing the effect of multi-drug
resistance arising from chemotherapy treatment on colon cancer cells.
Dr. Jennifer Arnold, the senior research scientist at PharmaGap
responsible for the tests, commented that: “We are very pleased with the
outcome of the acute toxicity studies. We were able to establish the toxic
dose and the efficacy dose maximum. The efficacy dose maximum is completely
lacking in deleterious side effects on behaviour and body weight and will
provide us with a broad and safe range for future efficacy studies”.
Robert McInnis, President and C.E.O. commented that: “These results
provide PharmaGap researchers with the necessary data to design the next
series of in vivo testing in mice, which will be to test for the effectiveness
of PhG alpha 1 in human cancer cells grown in mice. These efficacy studies are
anticipated to take place over the course of the summer. Completion of these
efficacy studies, along with the toxicity studies just completed, are a key
step in our discussions with large pharmaceutical companies who are
prospective licensees for PharmaGap compounds.”

About PharmaGap Inc.
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PharmaGap Inc. (TSX-V: GAP), based in Ottawa, ON, a spin-off of the
National Research Council of Canada, is a biotechnology company with a core
focus developing novel therapeutic compounds for the treatment of cancer.
PharmaGap’s research platform targets the modulation of gap junction-mediated
intercellular communication by signaling pathways such as those controlled by
the Protein Kinase C isoforms. Based on its expertise in cell to cell
communication the Company has also developed innovative cell-based assays and
models designed for compound screening for drug development (ADMET) and for
immune-system profiling in animals and humans, and has developed an animal-
free skin cell growth medium.