Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPHM), a clinical stage
biopharmaceutical company developing targeted therapeutics for the
treatment of cancer and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, announced that
preclinical studies being presented today demonstrate that a mouse
equivalent to its first-in-class anti-phospholipid agent bavituximab
significantly decreased growth in human prostate tumors in mice when given
in combination with docetaxel, a chemotherapy drug widely used to treat
prostate, breast and lung cancers. Tumor growth was reduced by as much as
94%, with no toxicity observed from the addition of the bavituximab
equivalent to the docetaxel regimen. The study findings will be presented
today by Dr. Philip Thorpe, professor of pharmacology at UT Southwestern
Medical Center and a member of the Peregrine Scientific Resource Board, at
the "Antibody Therapeutics -- Advancing Clinical Development of Therapeutic
Antibodies" meeting in San Diego, California.
In the study, Dr. Thorpe and colleagues at UT Southwestern studied a
bavituximab equivalent antibody, 2aG4, in combination with the
standard-of-care chemotherapy drug docetaxel in a mouse model of human
prostate cancer. Tumor suppression in the group treated with the
combination of the bavituximab equivalent and docetaxel was significantly
better (p
"Preclinically, we have now shown that bavituximab antibodies
significantly enhance the anti-tumor activity of cancer chemotherapy and
radiation in prostate, breast, lung, brain and pancreatic cancers," said
Steven W. King, president and CEO of Peregrine. "This new study is
especially timely since it further demonstrates the rationale for including
docetaxel in our bavituximab Phase Ib combination therapy cancer trial in
India, which is currently enrolling patients receiving one of three major
chemotherapy agents for prostate, breast and other solid cancers."
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men,
accounting for 30% of all male cancers, and prostate cancer is second only
to lung cancer as a leading cause of cancer deaths in men. Currently, there
is no cure for locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer.
This study, entitled "Antibodies to Phosphatidylserine for Targeting
Tumor Blood Vessels and Viruses," will be presented by Dr. Thorpe at
"Antibody Therapeutics -- Advancing Clinical Development of Therapeutic
Antibodies" at the San Diego Convention Center on December 12, 2006 at 2:20
pm PST/ 5:20 pm EST. Conference presentations are not available via
webcast.
About Peregrine Pharmaceuticals
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with a
portfolio of innovative product candidates in clinical trials for the
treatment of cancer and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The company is
pursuing five separate clinical trials in cancer and HCV infection in the
U.S. and India with its lead product candidates bavituximab and Cotara(R).
Peregrine also has in-house manufacturing capabilities through its wholly
owned subsidiary Avid Bioservices, Inc. (avidbio), which provides
development and bio-manufacturing services for both Peregrine and outside
customers. Additional information about Peregrine can be found at
peregrineinc.
Safe Harbor Statement:
Statements in this press release which are not purely historical,
including statements regarding Peregrine Pharmaceuticals' intentions,
hopes, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, plans or
predictions of the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but
not limited to, the risk that the results from the recently initiated
clinical study using bavituximab in combination with major chemotherapy
agents for prostate, breast and other solid tumor cancers will not be
consistent with the results from the preclinical studies using bavituximab
in combination with docetaxel. It is important to note that the company's
actual results could differ materially from those in any such
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially include, but are not limited to, uncertainties associated
with completing preclinical and clinical trials for our technologies; the
early stage of product development; the significant costs to develop our
products as all of our products are currently in development, preclinical
studies or clinical trials; obtaining additional financing to support our
operations and the development of our products; obtaining regulatory
approval for our technologies; anticipated timing of regulatory filings and
the potential success in gaining regulatory approval and complying with
governmental regulations applicable to our business. Our business could be
affected by a number of other factors, including the risk factors listed
from time to time in our SEC reports including, but not limited to, the
annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2006, and the
quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2006. The
Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the
forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Peregrine
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. disclaims any obligation, and does not undertake to
update or revise any forward-looking statements in this press release.
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
peregrineinc