| By PR Newswire |
| Thursday, 17 January 2008 |
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Helix BioPharma Corp announced today that it has signed an agreementwith KBI Biopharma Inc. KBI to develop a process for preparing L-DOS47. |
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"This new arrangement advances the Company closer to its objective ofinitiating clinical testing with L-DOS47," said John Docherty, Helix'spresident. "The lyophilized packaging format will provide for optimumstability of L-DOS47 while in storage so that individual vials may bereconstituted in liquid form immediately prior to patient administration."
About L-DOS47
L-DOS47 combines Helix's proprietary DOS47 new drug candidate with ahighly specific single domain antibody to form a potential new targeted drugproduct for the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the lung, the most common formof cancer in the world today.L-DOS47 is thought to function by leveraging anatural process in the body called the urea cycle to produce an anti-cancereffect. It is based upon a naturally occurring enzyme called urease thatessentially reverses the urea cycle by breaking down urea |
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into metabolitesthat include ammonia and hydroxyl ions. By doing so at the site of canceroustissues in the body, L-DOS47 is believed to modify the microenvironmentalconditions of lung cancer cells in a manner that leads to their death. Amongthese theorized effects, L-DOS47 is believed to stimulate an increase in thepH of the microenvironment surrounding the cancerous cells, effectivelyreversing the acidic extra-cellular conditions that are known to be necessaryfor cancer cell survival. As well, the local production of ammonia at the siteof cancerous tissues is thought to readily diffuse into the cancer cells toexert a potent cytotoxic effect by interfering with their critical metabolicfunctions. Helix intends to seek approval in 2008 by the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration ("FDA") to conduct a Phase I clinical study.
About Helix BioPharma Corp.
Helix BioPharma Corp. is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in thefield of cancer therapy. The company is actively developing innovativeproducts for the prevention and treatment of cancer based on its proprietarytechnologies. Helix's product development initiatives include its TopicalInterferon Alpha-2b and its novel L-DOS47 new drug candidate. Helix is listedon the TSX under the symbol "HBP" and quoted |
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on the Frankfurt, Berlin, Munichand Stuttgart Stock Exchanges under the same symbol. The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not acceptresponsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this NewsRelease. Helix has relied solely on KBI Biopharma for the information about KBI Biopharma provided in this News Release and Helix disclaims any liabilitywith respect to such information. Helix disclaims responsibility forinformation contained in any linked or referenced website, and such links andreferences do not constitute an endorsement by Helix of those or any otherwebsite. This News Release contains forward-looking statements and informationregarding production of L-DOS47, a planned Phase I clinical study, andproducts under development, which statements can be identified by the words"will", "potential", "is thought", "is believed", "intends", and "developing". Actual Actual results or events could differ materially from these forward-lookingstatements and information due to numerous factors, including withoutlimitation, the risk that the contract with KBI Biopharma may be terminatedearly; reliance on KBI Biopharma for performance; uncertainty whether FDAapproval will be sought as anticipated or at all. |
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