OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/19/11 -- Pharmagap Inc. (TSX VENTURE: GAP)(OTCBB: PHRGF) ("PharmaGap" or "the Company") today reports promising early results of internal testing of liposome formulations of its cancer drug GAP-107B8. In these tests, liposome prototypes loaded with GAP-107B8 have been shown to be significantly more potent than either peptide alone or the liposome carrier alone in both the ovarian and bladder cancer cell lines tested. These results establish that the GAP-107B8 peptide is bioavailable when formulated in liposomes.
The ovarian and bladder cancer cell lines tested were selected from those that the Company routinely screens and comprise both sensitive and resistant cell lines. Although some cell lines were more responsive than others, in all cases the GAP-107B8 loaded liposome formulations proved efficacious and reduced the dose level of GAP-107B8 required to effectively inhibit cell growth.
Testing of a number of liposomal formulations will continue employing different concentrations of peptide and liposome compositions, cell lines, GAP-107B8 components and liposome formulations in order to lead the Company to the final form of drug for each cancer type and route of administration, one of which will be selected for initial clinical trials by the end of the current year.
Data analysis will continue in order to determine statistical magnitude of effect from this initial data and from the results of further testing.
Liposomes are microscopic carriers with an aqueous core surrounded by one or more outer lipid layers, and release their contents by interacting with the targeted cells through adsorption, endocytosis, lipid exchange, or fusion. Liposomal delivery is a means to modify the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of drugs with the objective of increasing efficacy and mitigating any potential side effects of drugs by enabling the delivery and targeting of the drug to the target site.
Liposomal delivery systems are an accepted, proven, and commercially viable strategy for the formulation of pharmaceuticals for clinical use. These lipid-based delivery systems are employed to improve tumour targeting, modulate the pharmacokinetics of the active agent and enhance its stability following administration. Therapeutic activity may be improved by modulating drug exposure and accumulation (controlled release) in the region where the target cancer cells are located
About PharmaGap Inc.
PharmaGap Inc. (TSX VENTURE: GAP), based in Ottawa, ON, is a biotechnology company with a core focus on developing novel peptide therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. PharmaGap's GAP-107B8 is a novel peptide drug that has been shown to be highly cytotoxic to numerous cancer types, including chemo-resistant cancers, in vitro. For more information on PharmaGap please visit the Company's website at www.pharmagap.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking statements as they relate to the Company and its management. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but represent management's current expectations of future events, and can be identified by words such as "believe", "expects", "will", "intends", "plans", "projects", "anticipates", "estimates", "continues", and similar expressions. Although management believes that expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
By their nature, forward-looking statements include assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future results, conditions, actions or events to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. If and when forward-looking statements are set out in this news release, PharmaGap will also set out the material risk factors or assumptions used to develop the forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by applicable securities laws, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. The future outcomes that relate to forward-looking statements may be influenced by many factors, including, but not limited to: results of ongoing product testing and development; regulatory approvals required to complete development of products; ability to manufacture product at quality and scale for human use on an economically sound basis; patient reimbursement by private and public health insurance programs; unintended side effects of products; competitive products; product liability; intellectual property; reliance on key personnel; risks of future legal proceedings; income tax matters; availability and terms of financing; distribution of securities; effect of market interest rates on price of securities, and potential dilution.
Note: Neither the 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. No Securities Commission or other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over PharmaGap has approved or disapproved of the information contained herein. This release contains forward looking statements that may not occur or may change materially.
Contacts:Robert McInnisPresident & CEO(613) 990-9551bmcinnis@pharmagap.com
Source: PharmaGap Inc.