AVI BioPharma Scientist Presents Data Showing Novel Antisense Inhibits Gene Expression of Metabolic Enzyme in Human Liver
PORTLAND, Ore. - April 23, 2002 - AVI BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVII, AVIIW, AVIIZ) today announced that scientist Vikram Arora, Ph.D., has presented new research data showing that AVI's proprietary NeuGene® antisense technology can be used to inhibit a key metabolic enzyme in human liver. Dr. Arora presented the data at the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics in New Orleans.
NeuGene Antisense Technology for Drug Manipulation
Using primary cultures of human liver from 11 individual donors, Dr. Arora's study demonstrated that AVI's NeuGene antisense technology (AVI-4557) is an effective and specific inhibitor of CYP3A4 expression. This approach to CYP3A4 inhibition by NeuGene antisense represents a potential strategy for altering pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of clinically-relevant drugs metabolized by this enzyme. The study also demonstrated the functional utility of this inhibitory approach by altering the metabolism of two drugs: paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide in a predictable manner.
"The results of this study demonstrate the promise of using our NeuGene antisense technology in controlling how drugs are metabolized in the body," said Denis R. Burger, Ph.D., CEO of AVI. "We feel this will be extremely useful in positively affecting the toxicity and efficacy of certain drugs. Additionally, these data dovetail nicely with our recently completed Phase Ib human trial in metabolic redirection, for which we anticipate the release of data shortly."
Metabolic systems such as cytochrome P450 (CYP) process thousands of compounds in the body. CYP3A, a subfamily of P450, is responsible for metabolism of about 60 percent of clinically-relevant drugs and perhaps the most important and widely implicated enzyme in the arena of drug metabolism and disposition.
About AVI BioPharma
AVI BioPharma develops therapeutic products for the treatment of life-threatening diseases using two technology platforms: NeuGene antisense drugs and cancer immunotherapy. Its lead cancer agent, AVICINE®, a therapeutic cancer vaccine, has completed three Phase II trials in colorectal and pancreatic cancer and is in a Phase III pivotal trial in colorectal cancer. The first application of its NeuGene compounds, Resten-NG™, is designed to treat cancer, cardiovascular restenosis and other cell proliferation disorders by inhibiting the production of a cellular transcription factor, the oncogene c-myc. It is currently in Phase II trials for restenosis and in Phase I/II trials for cancer and polycystic kidney disease. More information about AVI is available on the Company's Web site at http://www.avibio.com/.
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