Life Science News Briefs Vol. 6 no.32 - November 8, 2006

• Pharmaceuticals & Biotherapeutics Update
• Clinical Trials Update
• Medical Devices and Diagnostics Update
• Industry Briefs

Pharmaceuticals & Biotherapeutics Update

Low Folate Diets Found To Increase Risk Of Colorectal Cancer

A new study by scientists at the McGill University Hospital Center (Montreal) has revealed that a diet low in folate may increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Published in the scientific journal Cancer Research, the study not only illustrates a way to prevent the disease but also provides further insight into the mechanisms of the disease, which could lead to novel therapies. Using animal models, the MUHC study is the first to demonstrate directly that diets low in folate cause colorectal cancer, and follows on the heels of earlier research by the same team that revealed how high folate diets can protect against heart disease. http://www.muhc.ca

BioMS Medical receives additional patent for multiple sclerosis drug

BioMS Medical Corp (Edmonton), a leading developer in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), announced that the University of Alberta has received additional patents for the Company's synthetic peptide therapeutic, MBP8298, for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). BioMS Medical licenses these patents on an exclusive worldwide basis from the University of Alberta. The most recent patent, entitled "Methods of predicting therapeutic efficacy of treatment of a multiple sclerosis patient" has been granted in the United States and addresses methods of predicting efficacy of certain courses of treatment for MS patients. http://www.biomsmedical.com

Microbix Updates Plans For Urokinase With Angiogen LLC

Microbix Biosystems Inc. (Toronto) is partnering with Angiogen LLC of Evanston, Ill. to commercialize a novel technology for the treatment of solid cancers by exclusively providing the urokinase needed for Angiogen's patented drug therapy. Microbix made a large investment this year in its product pipeline starting with the acquisition of a new production site in Toronto, a state-of-the-art facility with the capacity to produce commercial quantities of urokinase, the Company's lead protein drug. http://www.microbix.com

Bioniche Expands Patent Portfolio with Three New Patents

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (Belleville), a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, announced that it has been granted three new patents for its core proprietary Mycobacterial Cell Wall-DNA Complex (MCC) and the related oligonucleotides. The Company has been granted a patent in the U.S. entitled "Hyaluronic acid in the treatment of cancer" (U.S. Patent No. 7125858), inventors Dr. Nigel C. Phillips and Dr. Mario C. Filion, Bioniche Therapeutics. The patent has composition and methods claims covering the use of hyaluronic acid in combination with the Company's proprietary MCC and oligonucleotide technologies for the treatment of cancer. The patent also covers the use of hyaluronic acid with the anticancer agent tamoxifen for the treatment of cancer. http://www.Bioniche.com

Cangene announces potential new treatment for hospital-acquired infections

Cangene Corporation (Toronto) reports publication of results from a collaborative research project conducted at Channing Laboratories, a research division of Brigham and Women's Hospital (a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School). The research assessed the ability of certain peptides (small portions of proteins) identified at Cangene to inhibit surgical wound infections by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Often referred to as "staph" infections, these bacteria have become a serious problem in healthcare settings where increasing resistance to the antibiotic, methicillin, has made these infections intractable. The study appears in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2006 Nov; 50(11):3856-60. Cangene and Channing Laboratories will continue studies to elucidate the mechanism of action and to develop preclinical, clinical and manufacturing plans for this potential new therapy. http://www.cangene.com

Clinical Trials

Tramiprosate Phase II Clinical Results Published in Neurology

Neurochem Inc. (Laval) announced that Neurology, a worldwide, leading, peer-reviewed, medical journal in the field of neurology, has published today an online version of a publication on the Phase II clinical trial of tramiprosate (3-amino-1-propanesulfonic acid (3APS); ALZHEMED(TM)) conducted in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)) represents a potential new class of disease-modifying agents and is Neurochem's investigational product candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The results reported in the paper demonstrate that long-term administration of tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)) is safe, tolerated and reduces the level of amyloid (beta)42 (A(beta)42) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of AD patients. In addition, mean ADAS-cog(1) and MMSE(2) scores remained near baseline levels in the mild AD group over the 20 months of follow-up. The print issue of the publication will be available in the November 28, 2006 issue of Neurology. The article entitled "A phase II study targeting amyloid (beta) with 3APS in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease" will be highlighted in the "In This Issue" section of the journal. An electronic version of the article is already accessible online, and can be found at http://www.neurology.org under the "Expedited E-pub" section. http://www.neurochem.com

Lorus announces presentation on GTI-2040 uptake by tumor cells

Lorus Therapeutics Inc. (Toronto), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the research and development of pharmaceutical products and technologies for the management of cancer, announced presentation of GTI-2040 pharmacokinetics in patients with acute myeloid leukemia at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Meeting. The presentation entitled "Population Pharmacokinetics (PK) of GTI-2040 in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)" reports uptake of GTI-2040 in distinct subcellular compartments of leukemic cells at levels that exceeded plasma levels. The uptake of GTI-2040 was measured through an ultra-sensitive analytic method. The results of this study identified specific patterns of intracellular distribution of the parent drug predictive of both biologic and clinical responses. These data are consistent with previous findings, showing that GTI-2040 levels in circulating leukemic cells were 2.7 times higher and more sustained than values seen in plasma. The levels were even greater in leukemic blast cells in bone marrow, which is the primary target tissue in the treatment of leukemia. http://www.lorusthera.com

Aspreva Announces Preliminary Results of Phase III Trial of CellCept

Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Victoria), an emerging pharmaceutical company focused on increasing the pool of evidence-based medicines available for patients living with less common diseases today announced that based on a preliminary review of the data, CellCept(R) (mycophenolate mofetil or MMF) in treating myasthenia gravis (MG) failed to meet both primary and secondary endpoints in its phase III trial. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MMF in maintaining or improving symptom control with reduced doses of corticosteroids in patients with myasthenia gravis over a treatment period of 36 weeks. The primary endpoints in the trial included minimal disease activity while maintaining a designated low steroid and cholinesterase inhibitor doses. The preliminary analysis of the results from Aspreva's phase III trial indicates that MMF failed to meet both the primary and secondary endpoints. Aspreva's analysis also showed that MMF appeared to be generally well tolerated by the patients in the study. The most frequent adverse events were diarrhea, muscle spasms and other symptoms related to the disease. http://www.apreva.com

Medical Devices and Diagnostics Update

ProMetic Announces Positive Development for Mad Cow Disease Detection

BSafE Innovations Inc., a joint venture company owned by ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (Montreal) and Top Meadow Farms, dedicated to veterinary applications of prion research, is delighted to announce preliminary findings from its most recent testing. BSafE has in-licensed some veterinary applications of proprietary technologies developed by Pathogen Removal and Diagnostic Technologies Inc., a joint venture between the American Red Cross and ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. (ProMetic). BSafE relies on the same PRDT platform technology and core competency used to develop the first human prion blood filter which just received European regulatory approval and which will be launched on a commercial scale by MacoPharma over the coming months. Encouraged by the performance of the technology with human prions, PRDT scientists have been working on behalf of BSafE to demonstrate that the technology can be adapted to target specifically the bovine form of prions. Recent experiments have confirmed the ability of the proprietary technology to greatly enhance the sensitivity of post mortem testing for Mad Cow Disease. http://www.prometic.com

Zecotek Announces New-Generation Solid-State Photon Counters

Zecotek Medical Systems Inc. (Vancouver) announced it has successfully developed a new generation of Silicon based Photon Counters, designated the New Generation of surface Micro-pixel Avalanche Photo Diodes (N-MAPD). The counting property is a further refinement of its acquired photo-detector technology. The N-MAPD is aimed at replacing existing photo-detection devices, known as Photo-Multiplier Tubes (PMT's) used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) for medical imaging, as well as in wide industrial and research applications. The development of this N-MAPD and its manufacturing process was achieved in a joint collaboration with Dubna-Detectors Ltd, an R&D company based within the Institute of Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia. The development of the N-MAPD is wholly financed by Zecotek and, under the Agreement, Zecotek retains joint patent ownership and sole rights to commercialization, subject to the payment of an agreed participation incentive to Dubna Detectors Ltd. http://www.zecotekmed.com

DiagnoCure Withdraws Support of Meylan, France Subsidiary

DiagnoCure Inc. (Quebec City), a leading developer and provider of high-value cell-based assays and molecular diagnostics for the early detection of cancer, announced that effective immediately it will stop funding its under performing subsidiary, SAMBA Technologies SAS, of Meylan, France. The decision to withdraw support for the subsidiary was taken as part of a comprehensive review of DiagnoCure's business strategy. "We are currently reviewing all our operations in order to maximise shareholder value and strengthen our position going forward as a leader in molecular diagnostics for the early detection of cancer; Samba is outside of our molecular diagnostics focus," said John Schafer, President and Chief Executive Officer of DiagnoCure. http://www.diagnocure.com.

Industry Briefs

An outstanding cardiologist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) has been appointed to lead the national voice for cardiovascular physicians and scientists. Dr. Lyall Higginson becomes the new president of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) and is expected to lead the organization through significant change intended to increase the scope and influence of its activities. http://www.ottawaheart.ca

ChondroGene Limited (Toronto) announced that the Company has changed its legal name to GeneNews Limited by filing Articles of Amendment on October 20, 2006. The Company also reported that it expects its common shares will be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and begin trading under the symbol 'GEN' at the open of trading on or about Thursday, October 26, 2006, subject to receiving final approval from the TSX. The Company also intends to de-list and cease trading of its common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange at close of trading on the trading day immediately preceding the anticipated listing on the TSX. The Company, therefore, expects that its common shares will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'CDG' until the close of trading on or about October 25, 2006. http://www.genenews.com

Caprion Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s Applied BioMedicine (Montreal) group announced an expansion of a previously established biomarker research collaboration with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. The initial collaboration with Vertex was announced in March 2006. The expanded collaboration announced today will continue to apply Caprion's CellCarta® proteomics biomarker technology across preclinical and clinical development activities being conducted by Vertex. http://www.caprion.com

Biophage Pharma (Montreal) announced that it is receiving substantial orders from Quebec and California clinics for MELISA(R) testing, a novel and advanced diagnostic tool for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergenic substances. http://www.biophagepharma.com

(Life Sciences News Briefs © 2005 is prepared by Armar International for the Life Sciences Branch of Industry Canada (contact: Louise Leduc Tel: (613) 954-4715; E-mail: Leduc.Louise@ic.gc.ca).