News ReleasesPROTOX DOSES FIRST PATIENT IN BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA TRIAL USING PRX302 Vancouver, British Columbia, April 24, 2007 – ProtoxTM Therapeutics Inc. (TSX-V:PRX) today announced the enrolment and successful dosing of the first patient in a Phase I clinical study evaluating PRX302 to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly called enlarged prostate, a disease that affects one million Canadian men. “This milestone represents a significant step towards a curative therapeutic option compared to currently available therapies,” said Dr. Fahar Merchant, President and CEO of Protox Therapeutics. ”PRX302 may offer a dramatic improvement in patient treatment and could therefore establish a new standard of care for a disease that affects tens of millions of men worldwide.” BPH is characterized by difficulties in initiating or completing a urine stream and is often accompanied by painful symptoms. Oral medications, which address symptoms only, can cause unwanted side effects and become ineffective over time. Surgical procedures to treat elderly males with BPH are associated with complications and lengthy recovery times. The first patient was treated at Can-Med Clinical Research in Victoria, British Columbia. A second clinical site has also been initiated at Urology Associates-Urologic Medical Research in Kitchener, Ontario. Dr. Peter Pommerville, Principal Investigator at the Victoria site said, “The procedure went quite smoothly taking just ten minutes to conduct, under local anesthesia. The ease of administration means patients can resume their normal daily routine quite quickly and, more importantly, avoid the risks associated with surgery, notably the loss of sexual function.” PRX302 is a pro-drug which is selectively activated by prostate specific antigen (PSA), an enzyme produced at elevated levels in patients with BPH or prostate cancer. Preclinical studies have shown that PRX302 can safely and effectively reduce prostate size, potentially decreasing pressure around the urethra and helping to restore normal urine flow. Interim results from an on-going Phase I trial to treat patients with prostate cancer show that PRX302 is safe and well-tolerated with encouraging signs of therapeutic activity. In this new clinical study, PRX302 is being tested in a multi-centre, open-label dose escalation trial among male patients with symptomatic BPH who are not currently taking oral medication for their condition. The drug is delivered via two intraprostatic injections delivered transperineally. The primary objectives are to assess safety of and tolerability to PRX302 while secondary objectives will examine therapeutic activity including impact on symptoms and urinary flow. Up to 18 patients will be treated and actively followed for 90 days. Patient enrolment is expected to be completed before the end of the year. About Protox About BPH 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 contact:
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