OBI Osta Biotechnologies Inc.

THE ISSUE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE IS LIMITED TO CANADA ONLY. THIS PRESS RELEASE
SHOULD NOT BE ISSUED IN THE UNITED STATES THROUGH U.S. NEWS WIRE AGENCIES.


Osta Biotechnologies Inc. (TSX VENTURE:OBI) today announced promising results of
a pre-clinical efficacy optimization study on its lead anti-cancer therapeutic
agent OB-24, in a highly aggressive & metastatic human prostate cancer model. 
Data from this study showed that the combination of OB-24 and taxol greatly
potentiated taxol's anti-tumor activity and completely prevented the formation
of both macroscopic and microscopic lymph node metastases.  The data highlights
the enormous potential of OB-24 as a highly effective anti-cancer drug, which
either alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents such as taxol,
could become an effective new approach for the treatment of metastatic,
androgen-refractory and chemotherapy resistant human prostate cancer.


The study was conducted in an androgen independent metastatic human prostate
cancer pre-clinical model. The highly metastatic and aggressive human prostate
carcinoma PC-3M cells were implanted into the mouse prostate to mimic the actual
tumor micro-environment as it occurs in humans.  Data from this pre-clinical
study showed statistically significant reduction in the tumor volumes in mice
treated with OB-24 via intravenous injections compared to untreated mice.
Multiple intravenous (i.v.) injections of OB-24 at 30mg/kg were well tolerated
with no apparent toxicity. The activity of i.v. OB-24 at 30 mg/kg dose was
higher than the same dose given intraperitonially (i.p.). Data from this study
demonstrate the therapeutic bioavailability of OB-24 when administered i.v. and
confirm the findings of a previous study that was made public on March 11, 2008,
which showed a statistically significant reduction in prostate tumor weights in
mice treated with OB-24 compared to untreated mice, a comparable reduction in
tumor weights in mice treated with taxol and OB-24, and a significant
synergistic effect when OB-24 was combined with taxol.


Dr. Ajay Gupta, Chairman & CEO of Osta commented "We are quite excited with
these results as our lead anti-cancer drug OB-24, is continuing to show
consistent promise as a novel class of a powerful anti-cancer and
anti-metastatic drug, especially when used in combination with the standard of
care drugs such as taxol.  We are continuing to optimize the route of
administration of OB-24 in aggressive and metastatic prostate cancer models. 
The successful development of OB-24 either alone or in combination with existing
chemotherapy drugs for the treatment of androgen-refractory and chemotherapy
resistant human prostate cancer, would represent a major breakthrough in the
treatment of this devastating disease."


Results of the Pre-Clinical Study

The pre-clinical study was conducted in collaboration with Dr. M. Alaoui-Jamali,
a Professor of Oncology & Senior Scientist at McGill University and the Leader
of Drug Discovery Group at the Segal Cancer Centre of the Jewish General
Hospital.  In a pre-clinical study involving a total of 48 Scid male mice
implanted with human metastatic prostate cancer PC-3M cells in the mouse
prostate, the tumor volumes were found to be statistically significantly smaller
in mice treated i.v. with OB-24 at 30 mg/kg daily for 12 days (58% inhibition)
compared to untreated mice and compared to mice treated i.p. with OB-24 at 30
mg/kg daily for 12 days (34%).  Remarkably, OB-24 at 30 mg/kg given i.p. daily
for 12 days in combination with taxol at 10 mg/kg administered i.p. for 3 cycles
(3 days per cycle), led to a 86% inhibition in tumor growth a compared to the
mice treated with taxol alone (64%).  Also, OB-24 at 30 mg/kg given i.v. daily
for 12 days in combination with taxol at 10 mg/kg administered i.p. for 3 cycles
(3 days per cycle), led to a 94% inhibition in tumor growth compared to the mice
treated with taxol alone (64%).   In addition, there was a complete inhibition
in the formation of both macroscopic and microscopic lymph node metasteses in
mice treated with OB-24 at 30 mg/kg given i.p. or i.v. daily for 12 days in
combination with taxol at 10 mg/kg administered i.p. for 3 cycles (3 days per
cycle), compared to a 82% reduction in microscopic lymph node metastases in mice
treated with taxol alone at 10 mg/kg administered i.p. for 3 cycles (3 days per
cycle). The reduction in microscopic lymph node metastases in mice treated with
OB-24 alone at 30 mg/kg given i.p. daily for 12 days was 59% compared to a
reduction of 76% in microscopic lymph node metastases in mice treated with OB-24
alone at 30 mg/kg given i.v. daily for 12 days.  These results clearly indicate
that OB-24 synergizes with taxol by making this major chemotherapeutic agent
significantly more effective.


Osta Biotechnologies Inc.

Osta is a biopharmaceutical company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV:
OBI) dedicated to developing novel diagnostics and therapeutics for the aging
population particularly in the areas of Cancer, Alzheimer's disease,
Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and XLH.


Certain information in this press release is forward-looking and is subject to
numerous risks and uncertainties.  By their nature, such forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. 
These risks include actions of Osta's competitors, and those inherent in
scientific research and development.

Osta Biotechnologies Inc. (TSXV:OBI)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2024 to Jun 2024

Osta Biotechnologies Inc. (TSXV:OBI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2023 to Jun 2024