News Releases

Printer friendly version

PROTOX ANNOUNCES PRX302 DATA TO BE PRESENTED AT ASCO SPONSORED PROSTATE CANCER SYMPOSIUM

Vancouver, British Columbia, February 23, 2007 –Protox TM Therapeutics Inc. (TSX-V:PRX) today announced that additional pre-clinical efficacy and safety data on PRX302, a novel pore-forming targeted toxin, will be presented this week at the Prostate Cancer Symposium, a gathering sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Sam Denmeade, M.D., from Johns Hopkins University, will present the data on Saturday, February 24, 2007. The presentation, entitled "A Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Activated Channel-forming Toxin as Therapy for Prostate Cancer" supports PRX302's targeting efficiency in treating prostate-related diseases as well as its safety profile. The symposium takes place at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Co-authors of this presentation include M. Rosen, N. Merchant, J.T. Isaacs, J.T. Buckley and S.A. Williams.

PRX302 is rationally designed to kill prostate cancer and hyperplastic cells that over-produce the enzyme prostate specific antigen (PSA). These data suggest that PRX302 is ideally suited to treat diseases of the prostate where the goal is to ablate prostate cancer or hyperplastic tissues without damaging adjacent tissue such as the urinary bladder, urethra, rectum or seminal vesicles.

Based in part on the encouraging preclinical efficacy and safety data to be presented by Dr. Denmeade, Protox plans to commence a Phase I clinical trial of PRX302 for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Q2 of 2007.    A Phase 1 trial of PRX302 in patients with locally recurrent prostate cancer after definitive radiation therapy is currently underway. Interim data from the first human clinical trial (released in January 2007) indicate that PRX302 is safe and well tolerated and shows encouraging signs of therapeutic activity.

About PRX302

PRX302 is the lead drug in the company’s PORxin TM technology platform. PORxin drugs are 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 to create a potent anti-cancer agent with a distinct mode of action. The drug has been engineered so that it is activated by prostate-specific antigen (PSA), an enzyme that is overproduced in patients suffering from prostate cancer and enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH). Once activated, the drug punches holes in the cells causing the contents to leak out and ultimately cell death.

About Protox

Protox Therapeutics is a leader in advancing novel, targeted protein toxin therapeutics for treatment of cancer and other proliferative diseases. The company is actively developing two distinct but complementary platforms, INxin TM and PORxin, and currently has three clinical programs in development. A Phase IIa clinical trial into the use of 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. In addition, a Phase I trial has been completed for PRX321 to treat patients with renal cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer.  Patient enrolment is underway for a Phase I clinical study into the use of PRX302 (PORxin) to treat localized prostate cancer.  PRX302 has also been approved by Health Canada to commence a Phase I clinical study for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENT OF THIS RELEASE. THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

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 visit our website at www.protoxtherapeutics.com, or contact:

James Beesley
Director, Investor Relations
Protox Therapeutics
T: 604-688-0199
jbeesley@protoxtherapeutics.com

Michael Moore
Investor Relations
The Equicom Group
T: 416-815-0700 x 241
mmoore@equicomgroup.com