VANCOUVER, May 20 /CNW/ - Protox Therapeutics Inc. (TSX:PRX), a leader in
the development of receptor targeted fusion proteins, today announced that
preliminary data from the Phase 1 clinical study of PRX302 in patients with
moderate to severe benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), will be presented at
the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA). The 2008
AUA Meeting is the world's largest gathering of urology professionals and will
take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
Dr. Peter Pommerville, M.D., Principal Investigator from the clinical
site at Can-Med Clinical Research Centre in Victoria, B.C., will present the
results during the session entitled "Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Surgical
Therapy and New Technology" which will take place at 1:00pm on Wednesday, May
21, 2008. Dr. Pommerville's presentation is entitled "A PSA-Activated Protoxin
(PRX302) Administered Transperineally To Men With Symptomatic Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia is Well Tolerated and Exhibits Signs of Activity." Based on the
promising results from the Phase 1 study the Company has commenced patient
enrolment in a Phase 2 clinical trial.
About BPH
BPH is a common urological condition characterized by painful and
bothersome symptoms that include difficulty in initiating a urine stream, a
sense of urgency, leaking, dribbling and presence of blood in the urine. The
condition affects over 50 million men throughout North America, Europe and
Japan. More than half of all men will have symptoms of BPH by age 60 and as
many as 90 percent may suffer from BPH after the age of 70. Current drug
therapies mainly provide symptomatic relief and may trigger a range of side
effects including impotence and hypotension. Surgical options such as TURP
(transurethral resection of the prostate), which constitute the second-largest
item in the US Medicare budget, can cause impotence, incontinence as well as
other more serious procedure-related effects. According to Wood Mackenzie
(2007), the market opportunity for therapies used to treat BPH was US
$5.5 billion in drug therapies and US $4 billion in surgical procedures.
About Protox
Protox Therapeutics is a leader in advancing novel, receptor targeted
fusion proteins. Two novel drug candidates derived from the company's
INxin(TM) and PORxin(TM) platforms are being developed in three clinical
programs. A Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating PRX321 (INxin) for the
treatment of primary brain cancer has been completed and the drug has received
Fast Track Designation and Orphan Drug Status from the US FDA. Phase 2a
clinical trials evaluating PRX302 (PORxin) for the treatment of localized
prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) have also
been initiated. Protox is also collaborating with the U.S. National Institutes
of Health (NIH) on a research program focused on the discovery of next
generation fully human targeted therapeutics.
Certain statements included in this press release may be considered
forward-looking. Such statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or
achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements,
and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future
performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on Protox'
current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently
available to Protox and relate to, among other things, anticipated financial
performance, business prospects, strategies, regulatory developments, market
acceptance and future commitments. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date
of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and
uncertainties identified by Protox in its public securities filings; actual
events may differ materially from current expectations. Protox disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For further information: James Beesley, Director, Investor Relations,
Protox Therapeutics, (604) 484-0975, jbeesley@protoxtherapeutics.com; Michael
Moore, Investor Relations, Equicom Group, (416) 815-0700 x 241,
mmoore@equicomgroup.com
