Lorus Therapeutics Announces a Key Scientific Publication on Therapeutic siRNA in Cancer Therapy
02 March 2007 - 12:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
TORONTO, March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lorus Therapeutics Inc.
("Lorus") (TSX: LOR; AMEX: LRP), a biopharmaceutical company
specializing in the research and development of pharmaceutical
products and technologies for the management of cancer, today
announced publication of scientific data from preclinical studies
demonstrating the antitumor activity of its lead small interfering
RNA (siRNA) candidate, siRNA-1284. The article titled "RNA
interference targeting the R2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase
inhibits growth of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo" was published
online today in the peer-reviewed journal Anti-Cancer Drugs and
will appear in print in the April issue. The paper presents data
indicating that siRNA-1284 significantly decreases the expression
of the R2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase in a range of human
tumor cell lines in vitro. Lorus' research demonstrates that
down-regulation of R2 led to a significant decrease in tumor cell
growth and subsequent cell cycle inhibition in vitro. siRNA-1284
also demonstrated potent antitumor activity in vivo in xenograft
models of human cancers including renal cell carcinoma, melanoma
and colon adenocarcinoma. This article marks Lorus' first major
publication of detailed scientific findings for research in the
area of RNA interference and siRNA technology. "We are pleased with
the publication of these data in Anti-Cancer Drugs and see it as
further validation of Lorus' progress in translating RNA
interference science into clinically relevant therapeutics," said
Dr. Aiping Young, Lorus' President and CEO. "Gene silencing by RNA
interference is a valuable tool in gene function studies and a
novel therapeutic approach to drug development. The results
presented in this publication further validate R2 as an important
antitumor target." About siRNA siRNA is a novel class of molecules
that can decrease cellular target RNA expression through an
antisense process known as RNA interference (RNAi). Because of its
target specificity, RNAi is increasingly being examined as a
potential therapy for a variety of diseases including cancer. From
an evolutionary perspective, RNAi helps protect cells from viruses
and transposable genetic elements in addition to carrying out more
routine cellular tasks essential to development and growth. In
mammalian cells siRNAs have been shown to be the most effective
tools for RNAi, allowing for the development of clean and easily
regulated methods for disruption of gene expression. siRNA
technology allows for a range of new applications including target
validation for drug discovery and medical therapeutics. About Lorus
Lorus is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and
development of novel therapeutics in cancer. Lorus' goal is to
capitalize on its research, preclinical, clinical and regulatory
expertise by developing new drug candidates that can be used,
either alone, or in combination with other drugs, to successfully
manage cancer. Through its own discovery efforts and an acquisition
and in-licensing program, Lorus is building a portfolio of
promising anticancer drugs. Lorus has several product candidates in
multiple Phase II clinical trials and has completed one Phase II
and one Phase III clinical trial. Lorus Therapeutics Inc. is listed
on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol LOR, and on the
American Stock Exchange under the symbol LRP. Forward looking
statements This press release may contain forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities laws.
Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements
relating to: our research program plans, our plans to conduct
clinical trials, the successful and timely completion of clinical
studies and the regulatory approval process, our ability to fund
future research, our plans to obtain partners to assist in the
further development of our product candidates, the establishment of
corporate alliances, the Company's plans, objectives, expectations
and intentions and other statements including words such as
"continue", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "will",
"should", "may", and other similar expressions. Such statements
reflect our current views with respect to future events and are
subject to risks and uncertainties and are necessarily based upon a
number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered
reasonable by us are inherently subject to significant business,
economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and
contingencies. Many factors could cause our actual results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from any
future results, performance, or achievements that may be expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among
others: our ability to obtain the capital required for research and
operations, the inherent risks in early stage drug development
including demonstrating efficacy, development time/cost and the
regulatory approval process; the progress of our clinical trials;
our ability to find and enter into agreements with potential
partners; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; changing
market conditions; and other risks detailed from time-to-time in
our ongoing quarterly filings, annual information forms, annual
reports and annual filings with Canadian securities regulators and
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or
more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the
assumptions set out in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our
Annual Information Form underlying those forward-looking statements
prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those
described herein. These forward-looking statements are made as of
the date of this press release and we do not intend, and do not
assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements,
except as required by law. We cannot assure you that such
statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements
are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly investors
are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking
statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Lorus
Therapeutics Inc.'s recent press releases are available through the
Company's website at http://www.lorusthera.com/. DATASOURCE: Lorus
Therapeutics Inc. CONTACT: Lorus Therapeutics Inc., Dr. Saeid
Babaei, (416) 798-1200 ext. 490,
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