BioPharmX Studies Suggest its Violet® Iodine Formulation Inhibits Growth of Both FBC and Common Breast Cancer Cells in vitro
MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 26, 2016 – BioPharmX Corporation (NYSE MKT: BPMX), a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that it has – for the first time – elucidated the mechanism of action (MOA) of molecular iodine (I2) on fibrocystic breast condition (FBC) cells. The same research conducted with breast cancer cell lines indicated that the company’s proprietary I2 formulation, which is similar to Violet®, may also be effective in the most common breast cancers.
The company’s two in vitro studies, conducted on human mammary epithelial cells derived from FBC (MCF10A) cells, common breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, a Luminal A subtype, and MDA-MB231, a triple-negative subtype), and primary human breast epithelial cells, found BioPharmX’s iodine formulation has an apoptotic effect on both the FBC and cancer cells.
Study data indicate that I2 induces cell death via activation of a caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. It also showed that I2 had a potent inhibitory effect on cell growth and increase in cell death in MCF10A, MCF7 and MDA-MB231 cells. In contrast, there was no significant effect on normal cells.
Cancer cell lines used in the study were selected because previously published research suggests that Luminal A and triple-negative breast cancers represent up to 90 percent of all breast cancers.
The BioPharmX study is the first to describe the mechanism of action of I2 in FBC-derived cells. It also supports the therapeutic benefit of I2 that researchers have suggested may exist for breast cancer.
“Multiple studies have suggested that women coping with FBC benefit from treatment with molecular iodine,” said Kin F. Chan, executive vice president of research and technology at BioPharmX. “What is exciting about this in vitro research is that it shows us that I2 works by inhibition of cell proliferation and promotion of cell death. The results also suggest that I2 may have similar beneficial effects on some types of breast cancer.”
BioPharmX is committed to enhancing the efficacy of medical therapies by finding new ways to deliver proven medicines more effectively. The company is primarily focused on the development of novel dermatology products, but this core focus has serendipitously led to Violet®, a commercial formulation of I2, and a prescription strength formulation, BPX-03, both with unique delivery mechanisms that deliver I2 to the breast tissue. Prior to the BioPharmX formulations, I2 was not commercially available because it is highly unstable, which means it loses its useful properties prior to having the desired biological result.
MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 26, 2016 – BioPharmX Corporation (NYSE MKT: BPMX), a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that it has – for the first time – elucidated the mechanism of action (MOA) of molecular iodine (I2) on fibrocystic breast condition (FBC) cells. The same research conducted with breast cancer cell lines indicated that the company’s proprietary I2 formulation, which is similar to Violet®, may also be effective in the most common breast cancers.
The company’s two in vitro studies, conducted on human mammary epithelial cells derived from FBC (MCF10A) cells, common breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, a Luminal A subtype, and MDA-MB231, a triple-negative subtype), and primary human breast epithelial cells, found BioPharmX’s iodine formulation has an apoptotic effect on both the FBC and cancer cells.
Study data indicate that I2 induces cell death via activation of a caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. It also showed that I2 had a potent inhibitory effect on cell growth and increase in cell death in MCF10A, MCF7 and MDA-MB231 cells. In contrast, there was no significant effect on normal cells.
Cancer cell lines used in the study were selected because previously published research suggests that Luminal A and triple-negative breast cancers represent up to 90 percent of all breast cancers.
The BioPharmX study is the first to describe the mechanism of action of I2 in FBC-derived cells. It also supports the therapeutic benefit of I2 that researchers have suggested may exist for breast cancer.
“Multiple studies have suggested that women coping with FBC benefit from treatment with molecular iodine,” said Kin F. Chan, executive vice president of research and technology at BioPharmX. “What is exciting about this in vitro research is that it shows us that I2 works by inhibition of cell proliferation and promotion of cell death. The results also suggest that I2 may have similar beneficial effects on some types of breast cancer.”
BioPharmX is committed to enhancing the efficacy of medical therapies by finding new ways to deliver proven medicines more effectively. The company is primarily focused on the development of novel dermatology products, but this core focus has serendipitously led to Violet®, a commercial formulation of I2, and a prescription strength formulation, BPX-03, both with unique delivery mechanisms that deliver I2 to the breast tissue. Prior to the BioPharmX formulations, I2 was not commercially available because it is highly unstable, which means it loses its useful properties prior to having the desired biological result.
