AVI Presents NeuGene Antisense Data Targeting Prostate Cancer At Scientific Conference
PORTLAND, Ore. - Dec. 12, 2002 - AVI BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVII, AVIIW, AVIIZ) today announced that Gayathri R. Devi, Ph.D., principal scientist of AVI's Cancer Program, will present data from two prostate cancer studies at the Eleventh International Conference on Gene Therapy of Cancer to be held at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, Calif., Dec. 12-14, 2002. Dr. Devi will present a talk on Dec. 12 titled, "In vivo Efficacy of Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino-Based Antisense Oligomers in Tumor and Angiogenesis Models."
In the first study, AVI BioPharma's proprietary NeuGene® antisense technology targeted c-myc and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), genes implicated in various aspects of cancer progression including prostate, lung and pancreatic cancers. NeuGene antisense inhibition of hCG and c-myc in combination caused a significant reduction of growth of human prostate cancer cells in a variety of in vivo cancer models.
In the second study, NeuGeneS demonstrated efficacy in reducing tumor growth through inhibiting MMP-9, alpha V integrin, androgen receptor and the IGF-I receptor, factors involved in the progression of prostate cancer. NeuGeneS inhibited new blood vessel growth and the androgen receptor protein in prostate tumors, demonstrating that the drug is efficacious as predicted. The inhibition of the androgen receptor was confirmed by the inhibition of prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, understood to be an important tumor marker in prostate cancer.
"In each study specific reduction of target protein levels and in vivo bioavailability was observed," said Dr. Devi. "No apparent toxicity has been observed with any of the NeuGene agents studied to date. These data are strong indications that NeuGeneS can be developed as effective anticancer drugs."
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 initiating a Phase III pivotal trial in pancreatic cancer, with a supporting study 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 a Phase I/II trial for cancer. AVI has completed three Phase I NeuGene antisense studies that successfully down-regulated the liver enzyme cytochrome P450 and modified drug metabolism, and a Phase I/II trial in polycystic kidney disease. More information about AVI is available on the Company's Web site at http://www.avibio.com/.
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