Data to be Released at AACR

7 Apr 2008 07:01

EpiStem Holdings plc07 April 2008 Press Release Embargoed for release at 07.00 April 7, 2008 EPISTEM TO ANNOUNCE DATA ON ITS STEM CELL CANCER ASSAYS AT AACR Epistem plc (LSE: EHP), the UK epithelial stem cell company, announced todaythat data on its cancer stem cell assays will be presented at the internationalmeeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) at the San DiegoConvention Centre, California, USA from 13th to 16th April 2008. It has been suggested that tumours are derived from a small subpopulation of "cancer stem cells". If these stem cells are not affected by a cancer therapythe treatment is only likely to be palliative and the tumour will re-grow.Epistem are currently developing and validating cancer stem cell assays to testthe effect of novel cancer agents on this cell type to help identify moreeffective treatments. The poster presentation will demonstrate that a key regulator of epithelial stemcells, discovered by Epistem's Novel Therapies Division, inhibits the growth ofcancer stem cells. Epistem have assayed the protein in an in vitro cancer stemcell assay and have shown it to reduce the formation of breast cancer spheres(mammospheres) four-fold. Epistem's Contract Research Division also providesthe cancer stem cell assay on a contract basis for other pharmaceutical andbiotechnology companies. An abstract can be viewed on the AACR website at www.aacr.org or under 'latestnews' on the Epistem website at www.epistem.co.uk For further information, please contact: Matthew Walls +44 (0)161 606 7258Chief Executive Officer +44 (0)7887 501998Epistem Plc. Mike Wort / Anna Dunphy +44 (0) 207 861 3838Financial PR/IRDe Facto Communications Notes to Editors: About Epistem Epistem is a biotechnology company commercialising its expertise in epithelialstem cells in the areas of oncology, gastrointestinal diseases anddermatological applications. Epistem develops innovative therapeutics andbiomarkers and provides contract research services to drug developmentcompanies. The Group's expertise is focused on the regulation of adult stemcells located in epithelial tissue, which includes the gastrointestinal tract,skin, hair follicles, breast and prostate. Epistem does not conduct research inthe areas of embryonic stem cells or stem cell transplantation. Epistem operates three distinct business divisions, Contract Research Services,Novel Therapies and Biomarkers. Contract Research Services Contract Research Services provides specialised preclinical efficacy testingprimarily for drug development companies on a 'fee for service' basis. Thisdivision on a standalone basis is cash generative and profitable with aseven-year track record of providing testing services to over 80 internationalcompany clients primarily in Europe and the United States. Novel Therapies Novel Therapies is focused on developing its own innovative therapeutics.Through its discovery platform, Novel Therapies has identified 250 potentialdrug candidates, of which a subset are undergoing further evaluation andcharacterisation as stem cell regulators for the Group's emerging drugdevelopment pipeline. Biomarkers The emerging biomarker technology leverages the Company's knowledge of thebehaviour of epithelial stem cells and drug-induced gene expression change tomeasure drug effects during treatment. Changes in gene expression can bedetected within hours and at low levels of chemotherapy or radiation. The highlysensitive Biomarker technology is based on using mRNA extracted from the bulb ofcells at the base of a single hair follicle as a minimally invasive process tomeasure gene expression changes in epithelial tissue. Combined Business Model Epistem is exploiting its combined business model to advance its own therapeuticcandidates to late preclinical stage development. The business model integratesthe discovery efforts of Novel Therapies with the efficacy testing assays of itsContract Research Services Division, to identify and characterise new drugcandidates. Revenues generated by Contract Research Services and Biomarkers willassist in offsetting Novel Therapies' investment requirements for the discoveryand development of its lead therapeutics. The Directors believe that licensingpartnerships will be forthcoming across the therapeutics, biomarkers anddiscovery platform in 2008. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange