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- Posted Tuesday March 23, 2010
TGen and TD2 help Critical Outcome Technologies to present data about COTI-2 at US Oncology summit in Texas
Critical Outcome Technologies Inc. (COTI) (TSX Venture: COT) is
pleased to announce that it has accepted an invitation from US
Oncology to present at the US Oncology Translational Oncology
Program (TOP) Science Summit in Houston, Texas, on March 27,
2010.
The TOP science summit is a collaborative forum of scientific and
academic thought leaders in early phase oncology research who
assemble at this annual event to discuss new trends in oncology
drug development and learn about promising investigational cancer
compounds entering development.
The US Oncology Research TOP Committee and key representatives from
US Oncology's clinical research organization (CRO) US Oncology
Clinical Development will be in attendance. This includes a group
of 30 investigators that lead cancer research in community practice
research sites across the United States.
This summit will facilitate detailed feedback and networking
opportunities for COTI regarding the development strategies for its
promising drug candidate COTI-2.
"The US Oncology Research team has recognized the importance of
engaging in cutting edge research in order to obtain new therapies
for our patients as early as possible in the drug development
process," said Dr. Steve Jones, Medical Director of US Oncology
Research, a wholly owned subsidiary of US Oncology, Inc. "We are
delighted to have Dr. Wayne Danter present the COTI-2 data package,
as it represents a promising new treatment for many
patients."
The opportunity to present at this exclusive event was a result of
the evolving working relationship between COTI and Daniel Von Hoff,
M.D., Physician-In-Chief of the Phoenix-based, non-profit
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), and Chief
Scientific Officer for US Oncology. It was announced on Jan. 12,
2010, that Dr. Von Hoff and TGen Drug Development (TD2), a TGen
subsidiary, would lead efforts to obtain approval for clinical
trials of COTI-2.
"I am delighted that the COTI team will be briefing US Oncology on
COTI-2, an interesting new agent with what appears to be a highly
desirable mechanism of action," said Dr. Von Hoff. "I am confident
that the insights gained from the US Oncology team will help direct
the clinical path for COTI-2."
Dr. Wayne Danter, President and Chief Scientific Officer of COTI,
said, "It is with great pleasure that I have accepted Dr. Von
Hoff's invitation to attend this important event in the oncology
community and I look forward to receiving insight for the
development plan of COTI-2 from this highly qualified audience. It
is my sincere belief that participation in this summit will provide
value to COTI."
Mr. Michael Cloutier, Chief Executive Officer of COTI, said, "We
are delighted to have been given the opportunity by Dr. Von Hoff to
increase COTI-2's profile in the oncology community."
# # #
About COTI-2
COTI-2 is a novel small molecule that acts by inhibition of Akt/PKB
(Protein kinase B) phosphorylation that leads to caspase-9
activation in cancer cells resulting in apoptosis or programmed
cell death. COTI-2 is easily synthesized and has good in vitro and
in vivo efficacy against multiple cancers including small cell
lung, non-small cell lung, colon, brain, ovarian, endometrial and
pancreatic cancers. COTI-2 test results show it to be highly
effective as a single agent therapy and as a combination therapy in
a number of animal models of human cancers. COTI-2 differs from
other cancer treatments in that other treatments involve the
killing of all growing and dividing cells in the body resulting in
significant toxic side effects while COTI-2 appears to target and
destroy cancer cells only and has demonstrated low toxicity in
normal human cells compared to human cancer cells. The combined
scientific evidence indicates that COTI-2 is an ideal agent for
combination therapy with current standard agents for a number of
cancers. COTI is currently evaluating partners to share in the
risk/reward of development via a licensing agreement for COTI-2. To
request a non-confidential data package or discuss a partnership
concerning COTI-2 please contact Michael Barr, Director of Business
Development and Marketing at [email protected].
About Critical Outcome Technologies Inc. (COTI)
COTI is formed around a unique computational platform technology
called CHEMSAS®, which allows for accelerated identification and
optimization of targeted small molecules potentially effective in
the treatment of human diseases for which current therapy is either
lacking or ineffective. COTI is focused on preparing COTI-2 for an
Investigational New Drug filing in the USA in 2011. Including
COTI-2, the company has a significant preclinical pipeline
targeting large market opportunities such as: small cell lung and
colorectal cancer, adult acute leukemia and other cancers, multiple
sclerosis, HIV integrase, and Alzheimer's disease. For further
information, visit www.criticaloutcome.com.
About US Oncology and Translational Oncology Program (TOP)
US Oncology, Inc. is the leading oncology services company uniting
the nation's largest cancer treatment and research network to
expand patient access to high-quality, cost-effective cancer care
and advance the science of cancer care. Headquartered in The
Woodlands, Texas, US Oncology provides a broad range of solutions
to community oncologists, patients, payers, and the medical
industry across all phases of the cancer care research and delivery
system, and deploys innovation, technology, research and the use of
evidence-based medicine and shared best practices to improve
patient outcomes and offer a better patient experience. US Oncology
has played a fundamental role in the development of 39 cancer
therapies approved by the FDA. The TOP is designed to address the
special challenges of Phase I clinical trials, including increased
safety concerns and more complex trial designs. TOP represents US
Oncology's goal to take a leadership role in advancing new cancer
therapies and providing an opportunity for network physicians and
nurses to work with new agents early in the development process.
For more information, visit www.usoncology.com.
About TD2
TGen Drug Development (TD2), a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), is a 501(c) 3
non-profit organization. TD2 provides innovative services for
oncology focused biopharmaceutical companies using a dedicated team
of professionals with broad experience and understanding in drug
development. TD2 is uniquely positioned to support the need for
improved and accelerated development of new chemical entities
(NCE's) for life-threatening diseases. TD2 uses a unique
combination of experience gained through its contract research
organization business, and an integrated suite of proprietary and
non-proprietary tools, preclinical study execution, regulatory
affairs assistance, clinical trial design and management, and drug
development experts to successfully move therapeutics towards
regulatory approval. TD2 is dedicated to reducing the risks and
uncertainty inherent in the drug development process. For more
information, visit www.td2.org.
About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at
TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer,
neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of
translational research where investigators are able to unravel the
genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with
collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen
believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency
and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is affiliated
with the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
For more information, visit: www.tgen.org.
*
Press Contacts:
Michael Barr
Director of Business Development and Marketing
COTI
519-858-5157
[email protected]
Jennifer Horspool
Director Corporate Communications
US Oncology
281-863-6739
[email protected]
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
*
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider
(as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.
