WOONSOCKET, R.I., Oct. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- MultiCell
Technologies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: MCET.OB) is pleased to
announce the signing of a new sponsored research agreement with
Anand Ghanekar, M.D., Ph.D, of the
University Health Network's Toronto General Hospital expanding the
scope of the research project to evaluate MCT-485 in animal models
for the treatment of primary liver cancer. MCT-485 is a
noncoding double stranded micro RNA (miRNA) which has demonstrated
oncolytic and immune stimulating activity in in vitro models
of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Under the terms of the new research agreement, Dr. Ghanekar will
also evaluate a targeted nanoparticle version of MCT-485 for the
treatment of liver cancer. The targeted nanoparticle version
of MCT-485 is being developed in collaboration with Genisphere LLC,
a DNA nanotechnology company. MultiCell is investigating the
use of Genisphere's DNA nanoparticle drug delivery technology to
enable the targeted delivery of MCT-485 to the tumor and away from
normal tissues.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common form of primary
liver cancer, and is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide with
over 1 million cases reported annually. Hepatocellular
carcinoma remains an unmet medical need, and today's approaches for
treatment are of limited efficacy. MCT-485, possessing
both oncolytic and immune activating properties, could be superior
to doxorubicin, cisplatin and other currently marketed therapies by
providing a more robust activation of immunity, and a more global
and longer lasting anti-tumor effect.
About MCT-485
MultiCell Technologies' MCT-485 is a noncoding double stranded
micro RNA (miRNA), and the first of a family of prospective cancer
therapeutics based on the use of our patented TLR3 signaling
technology. MultiCell owns rights to several issued U.S. and
foreign patents and patent applications related to MCT-485.
The mechanism of action of MCT-485 is pleiotropic:
- Induction of tumor cell death upon direct exposure, while
normal cells are minimally affected.
- Production of TNF-alpha by cancer cells resulting in amplified
tumor cell death and a localized immune reaction that has the
potential to generalize and curb progression of metastatic
cancer.
About MultiCell Technologies, Inc.
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. is a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics and
discovery tools that address unmet medical needs for the treatment
of neurological disorders, hepatic disease and cancer. For
more information about MultiCell Technologies, please visit
http://www.multicelltech.com.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about MultiCell's
expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future
events or performance are not historical facts and are
forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). These statements
are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases
such as "believe", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate",
"intend", "plan", "forecast", "could", and "would". MultiCell bases
these forward- looking statements on current expectations about
future events. They involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results, levels
of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement.
Some of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause
actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections
in the forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to,
the risk that we might not achieve our anticipated clinical
development milestones, receive regulatory approval, or
successfully commercialize our products as expected, the market for
our products will not grow as expected, and the risk that our
products will not achieve expectations. For additional
information about risks and uncertainties MultiCell faces, see
documents that MultiCell files with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including MultiCell's report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended November 30, 2012,
and all of MultiCell's quarterly and other periodic SEC
filings. MultiCell claims the protection of the safe harbor
for forward-looking statements under the Act and assumes no
obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update any
forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after
the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of
subsequent events.
SOURCE MultiCell Technologies, Inc.