For immediate release: July 20, 2004
VANCOUVER - Inex Pharmaceuticals Corporation ("INEX"; TSX: IEX) today presented research results that indicate its pre-clinical Targeted Immunotherapy product, INX-0167, has the potential to enhance the anti-tumor activity of monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are used in cancer treatment to kill or inhibit the growth of malignant cells. Over the past few years a number of monoclonal antibodies have been approved to treat a variety of different cancers.
David Main, President and CEO of INEX, said the potential to use INX-0167 in combination with monoclonal antibodies presents a tremendous opportunity for INEX given the increasing importance of monoclonal antibodies as a class of drugs to treat cancer. Monoclonal antibodies currently represent a multi-billion dollar opportunity in the cancer treatment market. Our next steps are to determine the most appropriate development strategy to move this promising technology forward.
INEX presented the data at the 12th International Congress of Immunology and the 4th Annual Conference of the Federal of Clinical Immunological Societies in Montreal.
INX-0167 is the second product in INEX’s Targeted Immunotherapy platform in which the body’s immune system is induced to fight cancer and infectious disease. INX-0167 is the encapsulation of immunostimulatory oligonucleotides (short sequences of DNA) in INEX’s liposomal technology and combines the immunostimulatory properties of oligonucleotides into a single synthetic particle. INX-0167 enhances the number and potency of certain immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells. The resultant increase in NK cell activity is important for the enhancement of the potency of monoclonal antibodies through a mechanism known as antibody-dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC).
The data presented today demonstrates the ability of INX-0167 to enhance NK cell activity resulting in an improvement in the anti-tumor efficacy of monoclonal antibodies when tested in lymphoma and breast cancer models. Data presented in a preclinical model of lymphoma demonstrated that treatment with the monoclonal antibody rituximab (Rituxan®) alone prolonged median survival by 25% over control and INX-0167 alone was able to prolong survival by 110% over control. However, combining INX-0167 and rituximab produced a synergistic response prolonging median survival by over 500% over control.
INEX is a Canadian biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing proprietary drugs and drug delivery systems to improve the treatment of cancer.
The Company’s lead product, Onco TCS, is a Targeted Chemotherapy product combining the Company’s proprietary liposomal drug delivery technology with the off-patent anticancer drug vincristine. In March 2004, the Company completed a New Drug Application (NDA) for Onco TCS seeking marketing approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration for Onco TCS as a treatment for relapsed aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Onco TCS is being developed and commercialized in North America under a strategic partnership with New Jersey-based Enzon Pharmaceuticals Inc. INEX is expanding the clinical development of Onco TCS with several phase II trials for the treatment of lymphoma and other cancers.
There are forward-looking statements contained herein that are not based on historical fact, including without limitation statements containing the words “believes,” “may,” “plans,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “expects,” and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, INEX’s stage of development, lack of product revenues, additional capital requirements, risks associated with the completion of clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval to market INEX’s products, the ability to protect its intellectual property and dependence on collaborative partners. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments.
INEX investor contact:
Ian Mortimer
Senior Director, Investor Relations
Inex Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Tel: 604.419.3200
Email: info@inexpharm.com
Website: www.inexpharm.com
INEX media contact:
Miriam Zitner
James Hoggan & Associates Inc.
Tel: 604.739.7500
Email: mzitner@hoggan.com
INEX’s common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “IEX”.
