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CB1400, patented by Canopus BioPharma, prevents tumor growth and enhances the anti-tumor effects of cisplatin and cetuximab (Erbitux)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – Wednesday 18th June 2008 -- Canopus BioPharma, Inc. (OTC: CBIA), has confirmed the efficacy of its oncology candidate, CB1400, as a tumor reducing agent and has also demonstrated the synergistic effect of this drug in combination with both cisplatin and cetuximab (Erbitux) in two mice lung cancer models.

Chairman of Canopus BioPharma, Dr. Patrick Prendergast, stated, “We at Canopus are encouraged with the discovery of this new use for CB1400 to increase efficacy and reduce toxicity issues associated with conventional chemotherapeutic agents.”

CB1400, a former schistosomal drug, is currently in phase II clinical development as an anti-mucositis preventative agent in patients receiving radio- and/or chemotherapy treatment. Current anti-mucositis drugs have shown tumor-protective properties. For this reason CB1400 was evaluated by Canopus to determine its effect on tumor growth.

In work carried out by the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, on behalf of Canopus BioPharma, it was confirmed that CB1400 as a single agent significantly reduces tumor growth. In an initial study, tumor growth was inhibited by 48.8% in mice treated with cisplatin, the most commonly used chemotherapy drug. CB1400 alone showed 62.3% tumor growth inhibition while the combination of both compounds further increased inhibition to 69.6%, thus confirming a synergistic effect between cisplatin and CB1400. In addition, there was no evidence of toxicity based on observations of survival and weight change in the mice and there was no evidence that CB1400 protected the tumor.

Cisplatin is a platinum-containing chemotherapeutic drug, administered by IV injection which has been used for more than 30 years to treat various forms of cancer. Enhanced efficacy with CB1400 may prevent the development of drug resistance that is common with cisplatin.

In a similar study, tumor growth was inhibited by 61% in mice treated with cetuximab (Erbitux) alone.  An almost  30% increase in efficacy was observed with the addition of CB1400 to cetuximab, increasing tumor inhibition to 89.4%, confirming a synergistic effect of combining the two anti-tumor drugs.  Similar to the cisplatin study, there was no significant difference in mean weight or survival between the groups of mice; and no toxicity was observed in this study.

Cetuximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody, an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor used as a chemotherapeutic agent, administered by IV injection for the treatment of various cancers. Enhancing the efficacy of cetuximab may have potential in treating patients no longer responding to traditional chemotherapy

About Canopus BioPharma, Inc.:
Canopus BioPharma, Inc. (OTCBB: CBIA) is dedicated to providing the safest, most cost effective and efficacious pharmaceutical products and assay methods in the areas of infectious disease, radiation protection, cancer, and addiction. With innovative science, proven research and development leadership, and superior products and compounds, Canopus BioPharma has, since 2001, been committed to becoming a market trend setter in a new era of healthcare. In addition, the Company is a world leader in the development of novel camelid antibody products to provide unique avenues of progress and improvement in assay methods and monitoring capabilities for physicians, patients and researchers, initially for food chain protection applications. Canopus maintains staff in Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Panama and the USA.
Additional information on the Company is available at www.canopusbiopharma.com.

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With the exception of historical information contained in this press release, content herein may contain “forward
looking statements” that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. In particular, the Company may not be successful in its efforts commercialize or attain acceptable clinical results for its products. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include general economic conditions, delays and risks associated with the performance of contracts and research and development programs, uncertainties as a result of research and development, consumer and industry acceptance, litigation and/or court proceedings, regulatory risks including approval of Food and Drug Administration filings, the ability to achieve and maintain revenues and profitability in the Company’s business lines, and other factors discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Contact:
Canopus BioPharma
Len Rothstein, President, 818-980-5008
len@canopusbiopharma.com
Fax: 818-980-5088


Source: Canopus BioPharma, Inc.

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