WOONSOCKET, R.I., March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MultiCell
Technologies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: MCET) has filed additional
U.S. and international patent applications covering MCT-485 and its
composition of matter, biological targets, mechanism of action, and
methods and formulations for therapeutic use.
MCT-485 is a very small noncoding double stranded RNA (dsRNA)
molecule which has demonstrated a unique cytotoxic, oncolytic, and
immune stimulating activity in in vitro models of
hepatocellular carcinoma. MCT-485 is thought to target cancer
by delivering a cytotoxic and oncolytic effect to only those cells
having the highest tumor initiating capability that are part of the
cancerous process such as cancer stem cells and tumor initiating
cells. MCT-485 appears to have no effect on cells not
directly involved in the process of relapse, progression and
metastasis of cancer.
MCT-485 has demonstrated in in vitro models the ability
to kill transformed liver cancer cells while not harming normal,
non-transformed liver cells. "MCT-485 addresses the need to
directly target liver cancer cells and not normal liver cells",
said W. Gerald Newmin, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer. MCT-485 is currently being
evaluated in animal models of hepatocellular carcinoma.
MultiCell also plans to study MCT-485 in relevant in vitro
and animal models for other major cancers.
In contrast to other species of RNAs including siRNAs, MCT-485
appears to induce cancer cell death through a biological process
called pyroptosis; a caspase 1-dependent self-destruction cell
death that involves pro-inflammatory cytokine production.
Typically, pyroptosis is triggered by various pathological
stimuli. MCT-485 is thought to suppress or modify the amount
of mRNA being expressed by various genes linked to the metabolism,
proliferation and viability of cancer cells thereby inducing a
state of cellular stress within the cancer cell. MCT-485
appears to exert a preferential biological activity on transformed
liver cancer cells while showing no effect on normal,
non-transformed liver cells.
Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of
primary liver cancer, represents a major unmet medical
need. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a leading cause of
cancer death worldwide, and is the fourth most common cancer in the
world. Over 1 million cases of hepatocellular carcinoma are
reported annually worldwide. Current approaches for treatment
of hepatocellular carcinoma are of limited efficacy.
According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), only 16% of
patients diagnosed with primary liver cancer survive longer than 5
years. MCT-485, possessing oncolytic and immune activating
properties, could be superior to currently marketed therapies by
providing highly targeted killing of liver cancer cells coupled
with a more robust activation of immunity and a global and longer
lasting anti-tumor effect. Additionally, due to its unique
mechanism of action, MCT-485 could also prove effective in killing
other types of cancers.
About MCT-485
MultiCell Technologies' MCT-485 is a very small noncoding double
stranded RNA (dsRNA) possessing a unique mechanism of action, and
is the first of a family of prospective cancer therapeutics.
MultiCell owns rights to several issued U.S. and foreign patents
and patent applications related to MCT-485.
About MultiCell Technologies, Inc.
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. is a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics and
discovery tools for the treatment of primary multiple
sclerosis-related fatigue 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.