PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

PharmaMar presents results at EORTC-NCI-AACR to highlight a pipeline of targeted therapies

2014-11-20
(Press-News.org) PharmaMar results for antitumoral compounds and their mechanism of action at EORTC-NCI-AACR emphasize an innovative pipeline of targeted therapies

Targeting of eEF1A2 by antitumor drug Aplidin® reveals novel mechanism of action driving therapeutic efficacy

A newly developed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) combining a marine-derived agent with trastuzumab shows potent antitumoral activity in breast tumors overexpressing HER2 grown in mice

Antitumoral activity of investigational drugs with different molecular targets in the pipeline highlights their potential in several tumor types

Barcelona, Spain, November 20, 2014: Zeltia announces that its pharmaceutical company PharmaMar, will present various abstracts at the annual symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), Nov 18-21, 2014 in Barcelona. This symposium is an important forum to discuss new advances in targeted therapies for cancer and novel therapeutic strategies, such as immunomodulators and combination treatments. PharmaMar data that will be presented during the course of this event demonstrate promising compounds with targeted therapeutic profiles, and innovative strategies in the development of immunotherapies.

"Our compromise is to provide the clinician with a toolbox of first-in-class and innovative drugs. Our efforts are helping uncover how our compounds exert their antitumoral activity to optimize their efficacy and safety in patients", says José María Fdez Sousa-Faro, President of PharmaMar who will attend the symposium.

Two remarkable studies uncover how the antitneoplastic drug Aplidin® might exert its antitumoral activity in cancer cells (Abstract #334; Nov 20, 18:08 am and #345, Nov 20, 18:10 am). Biological and biophysical data using cancer cells resistant or sensitive to Aplidin® show that eukaryotic elongation factor 1A2 (eEF1A2) is physically bound to the drug Aplidin®. This direct interaction of Aplidin® with eEF1A2 mediates the efficacy of the drug against cancer cells, which involves oxidative stress and final apoptosis. Aplidin® gained orphan drug designation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission (EC) for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Patients with MM have been shown to have increased amounts of eEF12A.

Following the line of investigation at PharmaMar, another abstract will show the mechanism of action of the antitumoral compound PM01183 (Abstract #47, Nov. 19, 18:08 am). The results show that in various human tumor cell lines, such as colon, lung, and cervical cancer, as well as sarcoma the drug specifically inhibits active--not basal--transcription by inducing degradation of the enzyme RNA polymerase II via the proteasome (a protein degradation system in the cell). PM01183 is an antitumoral drug that has demonstrated clinical efficacy in patients with platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer. Furthermore, building on the efforts of PharmaMar to understand the mechanism of action of the drug candidates and products in the pipeline, data will show efficacy of Yondelis® and PM01183 in cells derived from patients that lack specific factors of the DNA repair mechanism NER (nucleotide excision repair) (Abstract #57, Nov. 19, 18:08 am). They have different profiles compared to other DNA binding agents, such as cisplatin and mytomycin C, highlighting a different mode of action driving their antitumoral activity.

Preclinical data on a newly developed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) describe the structure, which combines the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab with the antitumoral agent PM050489, an inhibitor of microtubule assembly through a novel mode of action, and the antitumoral activity in tumor cell lines and mice bearing breast tumors with different trastuzumab sensitivity (Abstract #502, Nov, 21, 9:08 am). The ADC showed potent efficacy in vivo against tumors that are able to uptake the marine-derived compound PM050489.

"We are very excited to present our new therapeutic approach for ADCs using marine compounds, as they are showing a promising therapeutic profile in animal models compared to standard treatment", pointed out the Director of R&D at PharmaMar Carmen Cuevas who is spearheading the research projects.

Finally, data from antitumoral studies of the investigational compound, PM060184, in patient-derived xenograft tumors in mice show efficacy at low doses in several tumor types, including breast, NSCLC and pancreas (Abstract #55, Nov. 19, 18:08 am). Early results in vitro also demonstrate substantial antitumoral activity of three marine-derived compounds against a broad panel of human tumor cell lines (Abstract #58, Nov. 19, 18:08 am).

INFORMATION:

About PharmaMar PharmaMar is a biopharmaceutical subsidiary of Grupo Zeltia; it is a world leader in discovering, developing and marketing marine-based drugs to treat cancer. Yondelis® is the first marine-based antitumour drug. PharmaMar has four other compounds in clinical development: Aplidin®, Zalypsis®, PM01183 and PM060184. PharmaMar also has a rich pipeline of pre-clinical candidates and a major R&D program.

About Zeltia Zeltia S.A. is a world-leading biopharmaceutical company specialized in the development of marine-based drugs for use in oncology. Grupo Zeltia consists mainly of the following companies: PharmaMar, the world-leading biotechnology company in advancing cancer care through the discovery and development of innovative marine-derived medicines; Genómica, Spain's leading company in molecular diagnostics based on DNA analysis; and Sylentis, dedicated to researching therapeutic applications of gene silencing (RNAi).

Disclaimer PharmaMar, which is headquartered in Madrid (Spain), is a subsidiary of Zeltia, S.A. (Spanish stock exchange: ZEL), which has been listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange since 1963 and on Spain's Electronic Market since 1998. This document is a press release, not a prospectus. This document does not constitute or form part of an offering or invitation to sell or a solicitation to purchase, offer or subscribe shares of the company. Moreover, no reliance should be placed upon this document for any investment decision or contract and it does not constitute a recommendation of any type with regard to the shares of the company.

For more information: PharmaMar: +34 918466000 Grupo Zeltia: +34 914444500

Or please visit our website at http://www.pharmamar.com and http://www.zeltia.com



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

How do teenage boys perceive their weight?

2014-11-20
Almost one third of male adolescents inaccurately perceive their weight. This can influence their eating habits and, consequently, their health, according to a study led by the UAB and conducted with 600 teenage boys from Barcelona and surrounding areas. Up to 25% of the boys reported trying to lose or control their weight in the past year. The research, conducted in collaboration with the Mental Health Unit of the Parc Taulí Health Corporation (CSPT), analysed the effects weight perception had on the boys' behaviour when trying to lose or maintain their weight. ...

NRL scientists discover novel metamaterial properties within hexagonal boron nitride

NRL scientists discover novel metamaterial properties within hexagonal boron nitride
2014-11-20
WASHINGTON - U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) scientists, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Manchester, U.K.; Imperial College, London; University of California San Diego; and the National Institute of Material Science (NIMS), Japan, have demonstrated that confined surface phonon polaritons within hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) exhibit unique metamaterial properties that enable novel nanoscale optical devices for use in optical communications, super-resolution imaging and improved infrared cameras and detectors. Metamaterials are artificial composites ...

Laser from a plane discovers Roman goldmines in Spain

Laser from a plane discovers Roman goldmines in Spain
2014-11-20
Las Médulas in León is considered to be the largest opencast goldmine of the Roman Empire, but the search for this metal extended many kilometres further south-east to the Erica river valley. Thanks to a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) laser system attached to an aircraft, the ancient mining works of the area and the complex hydraulics system used by the Romans in the 1st century BC to extract gold (including channels, reservoirs and a double river diversion) have been discovered. "The volume of earth exploited is much greater than previously thought and ...

New technique allows ultrasound to penetrate bone, metal

New technique allows ultrasound to penetrate bone, metal
2014-11-20
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a technique that allows ultrasound to penetrate bone or metal, using customized structures that offset the distortion usually caused by these so-called "aberrating layers." "We've designed complementary metamaterials that will make it easier for medical professionals to use ultrasound for diagnostic or therapeutic applications, such as monitoring blood flow in the brain or to treat brain tumors," says Tarry Chen Shen, a Ph.D. student at NC State and lead author of a paper on the work. "This has been difficult ...

Mediterranean meteorological tide has increased by over a millimetre a year since 1989

Mediterranean meteorological tide has increased by over a millimetre a year since 1989
2014-11-20
A new database developed by the University of Cantabria (Spain) provides data on sea level variation due to atmospheric changes in the south of Europe between 1948 and 2009. Over the last two decades sea levels have increased in the Mediterranean basin. "The meteorological sea level or meteorological tide component is the variation of the sea level as a result of atmospheric changes or more specifically, changes in the atmospheric pressure and the wind at the sea surface," Alba Cid explains to SINC, Alba being the lead author of the study published in the journal 'Climate ...

Weight and eating habits in Parkinson's disease

2014-11-20
Patients affected by Parkinson's disease often show marked changes in body weight: they may gain or lose a lot of weight depending on the stage of the disease, or they may put on up to ten kilos after deep brain stimulation (a treatment to alleviate the symptoms). This situation considerably worsens the quality of life of a person who is already suffering from heavily disabling motor disorders, so it is important to understand what are the factors that cause it. "The body weight and eating habits of Parkinson's patients change as the disease progresses", explains Marilena ...

The American athletics track is still a man's world

2014-11-20
The limited coverage that American female athletes get in the media is one of many subtle forms of gender biases they have to cope with. The little exposure they do get often focuses more on their attire, or how attractive, sexy or ladylike they are than on their actual athletic prowess. In the long run, this influences their performance in sports. This is the view of Emily Kaskan and Ivy Ho of the University of Massachusetts Lowell in the US, published in a review in Springer's journal Sex Roles. Kaskan and Ho looked at how pervasive small subtle biases and stereotyping ...

Contact lens discomfort linked to changes in lipid layer of tear film

2014-11-20
November 20, 2014 - Changes in the lipid layer of the eyes' natural tear film may contribute to the common problem of contact lens discomfort, reports a study in the December issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health. Applying a liposomal eyelid spray appears to reduce drying of the tear film and help make wearing contact lenses more comfortable, according to the pilot study by Fiona Stapleton, PhD, FAAO, of University of New ...

Cut the salt: Green solutions for highway snow and ice control

Cut the salt: Green solutions for highway snow and ice control
2014-11-20
Ice-free pavement. "Smart snowplows." Vegetable juice ice-melt. Cold-climate researchers at Washington State University are clearing the road with green alternatives to the salt, sand and chemicals typically used for highway snow and ice control. As a nation, "we are kind of salt addicted, like with petroleum, as it's been so cheap and convenient for the last 50 years," said Xianming Shi, associate professor in civil and environmental engineering. This winter, road salt is in short supply across the northern states and in some regions prices have increased by 10 ...

Major new study reveals new similarities and differences between mice and humans

Major new study reveals new similarities and differences between mice and humans
2014-11-20
Powerful clues have been discovered about why the human immune system, metabolism, stress response, and other life functions are so different from those of the mouse. A new, comprehensive study of the mouse genome by an international group of researchers including Penn State University scientists reveals striking similarities and differences with the human genome. The study may lead to better use of mouse models in medical research. The findings are reported by the Mouse ENCODE Consortium online on November 19, 2014 and in print on November 20 in the study's main paper ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Call for papers: 14th Asia-Pacific Conference on Transportation and the Environment (APTE 2025)

A novel disturbance rejection optimal guidance method for enhancing precision landing performance of reusable rockets

New scan method unveils lung function secrets

Searching for hidden medieval stories from the island of the Sagas

Breakthrough study reveals bumetanide treatment restores early social communication in fragile X syndrome mouse model

Neuroscience leader reveals oxytocin's crucial role beyond the 'love hormone' label

Twelve questions to ask your doctor for better brain health in the new year

Microelectronics Science Research Centers to lead charge on next-generation designs and prototypes

Study identifies genetic cause for yellow nail syndrome

New drug to prevent migraine may start working right away

Good news for people with MS: COVID-19 infection not tied to worsening symptoms

Department of Energy announces $179 million for Microelectronics Science Research Centers

Human-related activities continue to threaten global climate and productivity

Public shows greater acceptance of RSV vaccine as vaccine hesitancy appears to have plateaued

Unraveling the power and influence of language

Gene editing tool reduces Alzheimer’s plaque precursor in mice

TNF inhibitors prevent complications in kids with Crohn's disease, recommended as first-line therapies

Twisted Edison: Bright, elliptically polarized incandescent light

Structural cell protein also directly regulates gene transcription

Breaking boundaries: Researchers isolate quantum coherence in classical light systems

Brain map clarifies neuronal connectivity behind motor function

Researchers find compromised indoor air in homes following Marshall Fire

Months after Colorado's Marshall Fire, residents of surviving homes reported health symptoms, poor air quality

Identification of chemical constituents and blood-absorbed components of Shenqi Fuzheng extract based on UPLC-triple-TOF/MS technology

'Glass fences' hinder Japanese female faculty in international research, study finds

Vector winds forecast by numerical weather prediction models still in need of optimization

New research identifies key cellular mechanism driving Alzheimer’s disease

Trends in buprenorphine dispensing among adolescents and young adults in the US

Emergency department physicians vary widely in their likelihood of hospitalizing a patient, even within the same facility

Firearm and motor vehicle pediatric deaths— intersections of age, sex, race, and ethnicity

[Press-News.org] PharmaMar presents results at EORTC-NCI-AACR to highlight a pipeline of targeted therapies