SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 4, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nuvilex, Inc. (OTCQB:NVLX), a clinical-stage, international biotechnology company providing cell and gene therapy solutions for the treatment of diseases, announced today that Dr. Richard M. Hyslop, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) and member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Nuvilex's subsidiary, Medical Marijuana Sciences, and Dr. Corina Brown of UNC will be presenting at the 248 th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition being held in San Francisco, California, August 10-14, 2014. The theme for this year's meeting is "Chemistry and Global Stewardship".
Dr. Hyslop has been involved in cancer research for 35 years and is leading a team of scientists from UNC in "cutting edge" research on behalf of Nuvilex that is examining targeted Cannabis -based cancer treatments through the use of Nuvilex's proprietary "Cell-in-a-Box ® " live cell encapsulation technology. The goal of the research is to develop a "green" approach to treating "solid" tumors, initially those of the brain and pancreas, with constituents (cannabinoids) of the Cannabis plant.
In their presentation, Dr. Hyslop and Dr. Brown will discuss the virtues of Nuvilex's patented Cell-in-a-Box ® cellulose-based live cell encapsulation technology as a platform upon which treatments for "solid" cancerous tumors can be built. The Cell-in-a-Box ® technology is a way to encapsulate live cells capable of converting anticancer prodrugs (those that require metabolic conversion into their cancer-killing forms in order to be effective) in protective, pin-head-sized cocoons. Dr. Hyslop and Dr. Brown will discuss the use of Nuvilex's treatment for advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer under development that combines Cell-in-a-Box ® and the well-known anticancer prodrug ifosfamide, as an example of its many uses in the medical field. Most importantly, however, they will emphasize the preliminary efforts put forth to date by UNC to develop cancer treatments that combine the Cell-in-a-Box ® technology with cannabinoid prodrugs instead of ifosfamide.
Their efforts to understand the chemical and biochemical processes involved in the interaction of substances derived from a sustainable plant source, such as Cannabis, with sustainable live cell encapsulation (Cell-in-a-Box ® ) provides the opportunity to develop a "green" approach to treating cancers (pancreatic, brain, breast, and prostate) that affect hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide every year. For thousands of years, Cannabis has provided a sustainable source of fiber, food, energy and medicine. The Cannabis plant's cannabinoid constituents, with the most recognized of these being tetrahdyrocannabinol and cannabidiol, have been documented to possess broad anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, nerve-protecting and anticancer properties as well as other therapeutic applications.
The theme of this year's ACS National Meeting & Exposition, "Chemistry and Global Stewardship," concerns global aspects of the chemical enterprise related to sustainability of world resources, including green chemistry, the globalization of chemistry and the responsibilities and opportunities chemists have to serve the public in ways never before seen. There will be 29 technical divisions and nine committees in original programming with over 1,013 half-day oral sessions and 168 poster sessions at which novel research, such as that offered by Dr. Hyslop and Dr. Brown, will be presented. More than 7,400 papers will be presented and nearly 4,400 poster presentations will take place at the meeting. For more information on the conference visit: http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/meetings/fall-2014.html .
Chief Executive Officer and President of Nuvilex, Kenneth L. Waggoner, commented that, "The team of scientists at the University of Northern Colorado are performing 'cutting-edge' research never before undertaken to our knowledge." He went on to say, "The extraordinary 'Cell-in-a-Box ® ' live cell encapsulation technology has already shown much promise in both preclinical studies and/or in clinical trials as a platform for developing cancer treatments, particularly for advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer and breast cancer. Given that treatments for many diseases, including cancer, were originally derived from plant sources, we believe that the work with constituents of Cannabis being done by Dr. Hyslop and Dr. Brown and their colleagues at UNC will be a fruitful avenue to follow in developing targeted and effective treatments for serious and deadly forms of cancer, particular when such constituents of Cannabis are combined with the Cell-in-a-Box ® technology."
About Nuvilex
Nuvilex (OTCQB:NVLX) is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing and preparing to commercialize treatments for cancer and diabetes based upon a proprietary cellulose-based live cell encapsulation technology known as Cell-in-a-Box ® . This unique and patented technology will be used as a platform upon which treatments for several types of cancer, including advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer and diabetes are being built. Nuvilex's treatment for pancreatic cancer involves the widely used anticancer prodrug ifosfamide, together with encapsulated live cells, which convert ifosfamide into its active or "cancer-killing" form. Nuvilex is also working towards clinical trials associated with the symptoms of advanced pancreatic cancer and other abdominal cancers.
Nuvilex's subsidiary, Medical Marijuana Sciences, is dedicated to the development of cancer treatments based upon chemical constituents of the Cannabis plant known as cannabinoids. To do so, it will examine ways to exploit the benefits of Cell-in-a-Box ® technology in optimizing the anticancer effectiveness of cannabinoids against cancers while minimizing or eliminating the debilitating side effects usually associated with cancer treatments. This provides Medical Marijuana Sciences a unique opportunity to develop "green" approaches to fighting deadly cancers, such as those of the pancreas, brain, breast and prostate, that affect hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide every year.
Safe Harbor:
This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding Nuvilex and its future events and results that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan" and similar expressions, as they relate to Nuvilex or its management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Important factors, many of which are beyond the control of Nuvilex, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements include Nuvilex's ability to continue as a going concern, delays in clinical trials or flaws or defects regarding its product candidates, changes in relevant legislation or regulatory requirements, uncertainty of protection of Nuvilex's intellectual property and Nuvilex's continued ability to raise capital. Nuvilex does not assume any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.
More information about Nuvilex can be found at www.nuvilex.com . More information about Medical Marijuana Sciences can be found at www.medicalmarijuanasciences.com . It can also be obtained by contacting Investor Relations.
Investor Relations Contacts: Marlin Molinaro Marmel Communications, LLC Phone: 702.434.8692
