Clinical data for EndoTAG(TM)-1 to be presented at two further
medical conferences (DGVS, UEGW)
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* Presentation of efficacy data from the Phase II trial of
EndoTAGTM-1 in pancreatic cancer
* 63rd Annual conference of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für
Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten (DGVS, German society for
digestive and metabolic diseases); Chairman's meeting on October 2,
2008
* 16th United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW); Oral
presentation on October 20, 2008
Martinsried/ Munich, September 29, 2008. MediGene AG (Frankfurt,
Prime Standard: MDG) announces that the program committee of the
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten
(DGVS, German society for digestive and metabolic diseases) has
selected the clinical data for MediGene's drug candidate
EndoTAG(TM)-1 for the treatment of pancreatic cancer for presentation
at the "Chairman's meeting" of the 63rd annual conference of the
DGVS, which will be held on October 2, 2008. The lecture will be
given by Prof Dr Mathias Löhr, Professor of gastroenterology and
hepatology at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, and Head of Molecular
Gastroenterology at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ),
Heidelberg, who is the principal investigator of the trial. The
abstract "V02" is entitled PACLITAXEL EMBEDDED IN CATIONIC LIPIDS
PLUS GEMCITABINE COMPARED WITH GEMCITABINE MONOTHERAPY OF PATIENTS
WITH PANCREATIC CARCINOMA: A RANDOMIZED, MULTICENTER PHASE II TRIAL.
In addition, EndoTAG(TM)-1 data will also be presented at the 16th
United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW). In an oral presentation
on October 20, 2008, Dr. Stephan Haas, specialist at the II. Medical
Hospital for gastroenterology, hepatology, and infectious diseases at
the University Hospital Mannheim and investigator of the study, will
present the data during the free paper session "Pancreatic Cancer:
From Bench to Bedside". The abstract "OP056" is entitled SURVIVAL
DATA OF FIRST LINE TREATMENT OF INOPERABLE PANCREATIC ADENOCARCINOMA
WITH CATIONIC LIPID COMPLEXED PACLITAXEL NANOPARTICLES
(ENDOTAG(TM)-1) PLUS GEMCITABINE COMPARED WITH GEMCITABINE
MONOTHERAPY: RESULTS FROM A PHASE II STUDY.
Dr. Axel Mescheder, MediGene's Executive Board Member for Research &
Development, commented: "We are delighted that data from
EndoTAG(TM)-1 continue to arouse such interest. The selection of our
data for presentation at the DGVS Chairman's meeting and for oral
presentation at UEGW illustrates the interest this new approach to
cancer therapy has among experts in the field."
During the recent ESMO Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, MediGene
presented these very encouraging median and twelve month survival
data from the above mentioned, randomized and controlled Phase II
study. As previously guided, MediGene will present final analysis of
the study later this year.
With EndoTAG(TM)-1, MediGene's approach is to fight cancer by
"starving it" through the targeted destruction of endothelial cells
of the blood vessels supplying the tumor. EndoTAG(TM)-1 is a
positively charged lipid complex which attaches itself selectively to
the negatively charged cells lining newly formed tumor blood vessels.
Thereafter, the lipid complex releases the cytostatic drug
paclitaxel, in order to destroy the blood vessels and to cut off
supply of the tumor tissue. MediGene believes that this targeted
destruction of endothelial cells will not give rise to treatment drug
resistance, a common problem of many current tumor therapies. In
addition, it is expected that the mechanism of action of
EndoTAG(TM)-1 will be broadly applicable and suited for the treatment
of multiple types of cancer.
At present, MediGene is developing EndoTAG(TM)-1 for the treatment of
pancreatic cancer (Phase II study completed) and for the treatment of
hormone-resistant breast cancer (Phase II study ongoing). MediGene is
planning to conduct further development of EndoTAG(TM)-1 together
with a development and marketing partner, discussions with several of
which are ongoing.
The abstracts for the DGVS 63rd annual conference will be published
in issue 9/2008 of the Journal of Gastroenterology. The abstract
about EndoTAG(TM)-1 presented at the UEGW is available online at:
http://uegw08.uegf.org/scienpro/abstract_detail.php?navId=139&ss=534
This press release contains forward-looking statements representing
the opinion of MediGene as of the date of this release. The actual
results achieved by MediGene may differ significantly from the
statements made herein. MediGene is not bound to update any of these
forward-looking statements. EndoTAG(TM) and MediGene® are registered
trademarks of MediGene AG. RhuDex® is a registered trademark of
MediGene Ltd. These trademarks may be owned or licensed in select
locations only.
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MediGene AG is a publicly listed (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: MDG)
biotechnology company located in Martinsried/Munich, Germany, with
subsidiaries in Oxford, UK and San Diego, USA. MediGene is the first
German biotech company to have drugs on the market, which are being
distributed by partner companies. MediGene has several drug
candidates in clinical development, some of which offering
substantial sales returns. In addition, the company has numerous
projects in research and pre-clinical development and possesses
innovative platform technologies. MediGene focuses on the research
and development of novel drugs for the treatment of cancer and
autoimmune diseases.
Contact MediGene AG
E-mail: investor@medigene.com
Fax:++49 - 89 - 85 65 - 2920
Julia Hofmann / Dr. Nadja Wolf, Public Relations, Tel.: ++49 - 89 -
85 65 - 3324
Dr. Georg Dönges, Investor Relations, Tel.: ++49 - 89 - 85 65 - 2946
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MediGene AG
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