[b]$BMSN[/b] Bio-Matrix' Regen BioPharma Executes LOI to Acquire Issued US Patent Covering Cancer Gene-Silencing Technology for Use in Treating Breast Cancer
Validated Preclinical Technology to Be Used for Non-Toxic Treatment of Breast Cancer and Melanoma
SAN DIEGO, CA, [b][color=blue]Feb 26, 2013[/color][/b] (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Inc. (PINKSHEETS: BMSN) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary Regen BioPharma Inc. has entered into a Letter of Intent ("LOI") to purchase patented intellectual property covering a novel means of treating breast cancer by augmenting the immune system using a "gene silencing" approach.
The technology has been published in peer-reviewed journals by Professor Min, which documents its capacity of reducing tumors in melanoma (Zheng et al. J Immunol. 2006 Oct 15;177(8):5639-46) and breast cancer models (Zheng et al. Int J Cancer. 2013 Feb 15;132(4):967-77).
This gene silencing therapy was developed through over 1.5 million dollars of grant funding at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. This approach offers the possibility of destroying tumors in a non-toxic manner through leveraging the body's own immune system to recognize the cancer as "foreign" and subsequently eradicating it.
"For more than a decade our laboratory's focus has been to identify how to use gene silencing in the context of immunology. We are enthusiastic to have partnered with Bio-Matrix' Regen BioPharm. We believe this novel approach in treating breast cancer will greatly enhance outcomes for patients," said Professor Min. "While Dendreon's Provenge cancer vaccine has provided an industry precedent for immunotherapy as a practical alternative in oncology, we believe that our approach is capable at competing both at the cost, and efficacy level."
Provenge is a vaccine for prostate cancer that costs $93,000 per treatment cycle(1) and had sales of $240 million in the last three quarters of 2012, despite only increasing survival by 4.1 months(2). Dendreon's Provenge requires extraction of dendritic cells, a "master cell" of the immune system, and manipulation outside of the body. The technology developed by Professor Min involves "training" of the same dendritic cells inside of the body by administration of specific nanoparticles. Proof of concept of these nanoparticles were published by Professor Min in collaboration with University of California San Diego in the prestigious scientific journal Blood (Zheng et al. Blood. 2009 Mar 19;113(12):2646-54).
"We are eager to continue working with Professor Min and his team at taking his technology into cancer patients," said David Koos, Chairman & CEO of Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Inc. "The stellar academic record of Dr. Min and his continual involvement should not only help accelerate our therapeutics development process, but should also position us for numerous grant and philanthropic funding to support the ongoing translational development."
The transactions contemplated by the LOI are subject to the execution of one or more definitive agreements on terms and conditions mutually acceptable to the parties.
About Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Inc. and Regen BioPharma, Inc.:
Bio-Matrix Scientific Group, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: BMSN), through its wholly owned subsidiary Regen BioPharma, Inc., is a biotechnology company focused on identifying undervalued regenerative medicine and other niche patents, rapidly advancing these technologies through pre-clinical and Phase I/ II clinical trials and ultimately partnering or licensing these technologies to large pharma companies for Phase III clinical trials and commercialization. To follow our development, visit us at www.regenbiopharma.com.
