Protox to present Phase 2b BPH data at the Annual Meeting of the American
Urological Association
VANCOUVER, June 1 /CNW/ - Protox Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: PRX), a leader in the development of receptor targeted fusion proteins, today announced that two oral podium presentations on the company's lead candidate, PRX302, will be made at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA). These presentations will include six month data from the Phase 2b clinical study of PRX302 called TRIUMPH, in patients with moderate to severe benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The annual AUA meeting is the world's largest gathering of urology professionals and takes place May 29 - June 3 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California.
Dr. Mostafa M. Elhilali, OC, M.D., Ph.D. Chief Co-Principal Investigator and Stephen Jarislowsky Chair of Urology at McGill University, will deliver both podium presentations on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 as follows:
Session: Late-Breaking Science Forum Title: Results of a Phase IIb Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Study of Transperineal Intraprostatic Injection of a PSA-Activated Protoxin (PRX 302) in Patients with Moderate to Severe LUTS Location, Date and Time: Moscone South, Room 103, Tuesday, June 1, 2010, 1:00 PM (PST) Session: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia; Medical and Hormonal Therapy Title: Evaluation of Transperineal Prostatic Administration of a PSA activated Protoxin (PRX302) in Men with LUTS secondary to BPH Location, Date and Time: Moscone North Building, Room 120, Podium 52, Tuesday, June 1, 2010, 3:30 PM (PST)
About PRX302
PRX302 is the lead drug in the company's PORxin(TM) technology platform. PORxin drugs are pore-forming pro-drugs that are activated by specific proteases produced at elevated levels on the surface of target cells. PRX302 has been generated by engineering the naturally occurring toxin proaerolysin so that it is activated by prostate-specific antigen (PSA), an enzyme that is overproduced in patients suffering from prostate cancer and BPH. Once activated, the drug punches holes in the cells causing the contents to leak out and ultimately cell death.
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, dribbling, incomplete emptying of the bladder, waking several times during the night to urinate and sometimes the presence of blood in the urine. More than half of all men will have symptoms of BPH by the age of 60 and as many as 90% may suffer from BPH after the age of 80. Current oral therapies mainly provide symptomatic relief and can trigger a range of side effects including sexual dysfunction and hypotension. It is estimated that in the seven largest global markets approximately 10 million men are treated annually with oral therapies and these products encompass approximately U.S. $4 billion of sales each year. Surgical options, including minimally invasive procedures, can cause sexual dysfunction, incontinence as well as other more serious procedure-related effects. Surgical measures can require hospitalization, significant recovery time and requires catheterization for variable time intervals. Nearly 600,000 surgical procedures are conducted annually in the seven largest markets.
About Protox Therapeutics
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. Protox's lead program, PRX302 (PORxin), achieved its primary clinical endpoint from its Phase 2b placebo controlled trial called TRIUMPH, to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate). In addition to these positive results, data from the Phase 2a study demonstrated durability at 12 months. PRX302 is also being evaluated for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. 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 and EMEA. 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, Senior Director, Investor Relations, Protox Therapeutics, (604) 484-0975, [email protected]; Michael Moore, Investor Relations, Equicom Group, (416) 815-0700 x 241, [email protected]
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