Phase I clinical trial Altachem Pharma Ltd. Receives Health Canada Clearance to Initiate Phase I clinical trial for Actinic Keratosis - Company moves into clinical phase with 'Sonolight' Technology - Trading Symbol: AAF:TSX Venture Exchange EDMONTON, Sept. 1 /CNW/ - Altachem Pharma Ltd. ("Altachem" or "the Company") announced today that it has received clearance from the Therapeutic Products Directorate of Health Canada to initiate a Phase I clinical trial to investigate the topical application of its lead photodynamic therapy (PDT) compound ACP-SL017 as a treatment for Actinic Keratosis, a potentially serious pre-cancerous skin condition. The Principal Investigator for the trial is Dr. Jaggi Rao MD, FRCPC, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Dermatology and Cutaneous Science at the University of Alberta and Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. "This is a major milestone for Altachem" said Dr. David Cox, President and CEO. "It marks the transition of Altachem to a clinical phase company after many years in pre-clinical development of this PDT technology. All the necessary approvals and logistics are now in place and we expect to commence enrolment very soon. We anticipate that the trial will be complete before year end." This clinical trial is a controlled, randomized, open label, dose escalation Phase I study for the topical application of ACP-SL017 Topical Gel to patients with actinic keratoses. The study is designed to determine the cutaneous and systemic toxicity of topically applied ACP-SL017 with and without photoactivation, and to evaluate clinically and pathologically the therapeutic effect of applying photodynamic therapy (PDT) to actinic keratosis using photoactivated ACP-SL017. "We are excited to be able to initiate the human clinical trial on this novel compound for topical photodynamic treatment of actinic keratosis" said Dr. Jaggi Rao, Principal Investigator for the trial. "This disease is a very common pre-cancerous skin disorder which if left untreated, has the potential to develop into more serious skin cancers." Shareholders are reminded that the Company's Annual and Special meeting will be held at 3.00pm, Thursday, September 15th at the Greenwood Inn in Edmonton. Those unable to attend are encouraged to vote their proxies as instructed in the package mailed to them on August 17th. About Altachem Pharma Ltd The Corporation is a publicly traded (TSX Venture Exchange: AAF), Alberta-based pharmaceutical company committed to the development and commercialization of new pharmaceutical products. It is developing a series of products for the treatment of cancer and other proliferative diseases based on its Photodynamic/Sonodynamic technology ("SonoLight") and its cyclin-dependant kinase inhibitor platforms. As well as the Actinic Keratosis indication, the Company is also developing a treatment for prostate cancer based on the Sonolight technology. Altachem also has a profitable product in AccuMAb(TM), a monoclonal-based diagnostic kit for whooping cough. Except for historical information, this press release may contain forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events. These forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, which may cause but are not limited to, changing market conditions, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the establishment of corporate alliances, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's ongoing quarterly and annual reporting. "TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein." %SEDAR: 00008400E For further information: please contact: David Cox, President and CEO, Tel.: (780) 448-1400 (Ext. 209), cox@altachempharma.com or Thomas Woo, VP Product Development, (Ext. 224, thomas@altachempharma.com). Web site:
www.altachempharma.com