Delcath Adds University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to Phase III Trial
03 December 2008 - 12:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Hillman Cancer Center Joins Trial with James Pingpank, MD, FACS, as
Principal Investigator NEW YORK, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Delcath Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCTH) announced today that the
Hillman Cancer Center of the University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center (UPMC), has joined Delcath's Phase III clinical trial
testing its Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion (PHP) System against
inoperable metastatic melanoma in the liver. James Pingpank, MD,
FACS, Associate Professor Surgery in the Department of Surgical
Oncology, will serve as the Principal Investigator at UPMC, while
maintaining his role as Extramural Adjunct Principal Investigator
for the entire multi-center trial. This pivotal multi-center study
for the isolated, high dose delivery of the anti-cancer agent
melphalan is led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). UPMC is
the eleventh center to join this trial, and is a leading liver
transplant center and a pioneer in cutting-edge regional liver
therapy techniques. This trial is now enrolling at the following
centers: -- National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland --
University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- John Wayne Cancer
Institute in Santa Monica, California -- Moffitt Cancer Center in
Tampa, Florida -- Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado --
Providence Cancer Center in Portland, Oregon -- University of
Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland -- Albany Medical
Center in Albany, New York -- St. Luke's Cancer Center in
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania -- Morristown Memorial Hospital in
Morristown, New Jersey -- University of Texas Medical Branch in
Galveston, Texas (Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081118/NY46990LOGO )
Commenting on joining this Phase III study, Dr. Pingpank stated,
"This is an extraordinary time for the PHP method, and we continue
to gather the statistical data regarding its utility in this
otherwise untreatable cancer. I have worked with this technology
for many years, and am pleased to lead the trial at Pittsburgh as
we complete enrollment in this study, and explore other viable
options for its use, including colorectal metastasis,
neuroendocrine metastasis and primary liver cancer." Richard L.
Taney, President and CEO of Delcath commented, "Dr. Pingpank has
continued his commitment to and involvement with this System since
joining UPMC, and we are delighted that he will be leading the push
to further accelerate the momentum that we have been experiencing.
We look forward to continue working with Jim, and to work with the
other world renowned clinicians at UPMC, who have demonstrated
international leadership in the field of regional cancer
therapies." About the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center UPMC
is an integrated global health enterprise headquartered in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and one of the leading nonprofit health
systems in the United States. As western Pennsylvania's largest
employer, with 50,000 employees and $7 billion in revenue, UPMC is
transforming the economy of the region into one based on medicine,
research, and technology. By integrating 20 hospitals, 400 doctors'
offices and outpatient sites, long-term care facilities, and a
major health insurance services division, UPMC has advanced the
quality and efficiency of health care and developed internationally
renowned programs in transplantation, cancer, neurosurgery,
psychiatry, orthopaedics, and sports medicine, among others. UPMC
is commercializing its medical and technological expertise by
nurturing new companies, developing strategic business
relationships with some of the world's leading multinational
corporations, and expanding into international markets, including
Italy, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Qatar. For more information
about UPMC, visit our website at http://www.upmc.com/. About
Delcath Systems, Inc. Delcath Systems, Inc. is a medical technology
company specializing in cancer treatment. The Company is testing a
proprietary, patented drug delivery system for the treatment of
liver cancers. Delcath's novel drug delivery platform is testing
the delivery of ultra-high doses of anti-cancer drugs to the liver
while preventing these high doses of drug from entering the
patient's bloodstream. The Company is currently enrolling patients
in Phase III and Phase II clinical studies for the treatment of
liver cancers using high doses of melphalan. The Company's
intellectual property portfolio consists of twenty-eight patents on
a worldwide basis including the U.S., Europe, Asia and Canada. For
more information, please visit the Company's website at
http://www.delcath.com/. The Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements
made by the Company or on its behalf. This news release contains
forward-looking statements, which are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially
from those described. Factors that may cause such differences
include, but are not limited to, uncertainties relating to our
ability to successfully complete Phase III clinical trials and
secure regulatory approval of our current or future drug-delivery
system and uncertainties regarding our ability to obtain financial
and other resources for any research, development and
commercialization activities. These factors, and others, are
discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they
are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise
these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
after the date they are made.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081118/NY46990LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Delcath Systems, Inc.
CONTACT: Company: Richard Taney of Delcath Systems, Inc.,
+1-212-489-2100, ; Public Relations: Robin Wagge of Rubenstein
Associates, Inc., +1-212-843-8006, Web Site:
http://www.delcath.com/ http://www.upmc.com/
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