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Canada Business News and Press Releases
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(EMAILWIRE.COM, August 25, 2009 ) OTTAWA, ONTARIO - PharmaGap Inc. (TSX VENTURE:GAP) (OTCBB:PHRGF) ("PharmaGap" or "the Company") is pleased to announce results from the initial testing of its lead cancer drug GAP-107B8 by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI). The NCI data clearly demonstrates significant inhibition of cancer cell growth at a low drug concentration (10 micronsM) across a wide range of human cancer cell lines that comprise the NCI-60 panel. As currently configured, the NCI-60 panel is comprised of 57 human cancer cell lines derived from 9 different cancers (breast, prostate, renal, ovarian, renal, ovarian, CNS, colon, lung, melanoma and leukemia).
The Company is very pleased to report that in this test, GAP-107B8 demonstrated greater than 50% inhibition in cancer cell growth in 26 of 57 cell lines (46% of all cell lines), from all 9 cancer types in the panel, indicating the potential for potent effect of this novel drug compound across a broad range of human cancers.
Notably, 7 of 9 melanoma cell lines showed a dramatic effect, with inhibition of cell growth of 58% to 100%, with one melanoma cell line showing 100% inhibition of cell growth plus cell death in 39% of treated cells. In 4 of 6 breast cancer lines, 67% to 100% inhibition of cell growth was seen, and in 3 of 5 CNS cancer cell lines, growth inhibition was 63% to 100%. In 1 of 2 prostate cancer cell lines, growth inhibition was 100%.
Dr. Doug Cowart, an experienced clinical pharmacologist and CEO of Therapeutic Development Consultants in North Potomac, MD and a member of PharmaGap's Clinical Development Group, commented on the results, "The initial data from the NCI is a powerful and compelling independent validation of GAP-107B8's potential for development in the treatment of a wide range of cancers. We are especially pleased that the data were consistent with the Company's previous finding of the compound's efficacy in breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer cell lines, while also identifying potential new candidate cell lines, such as those derived from melanoma. We look forward to pursuing the study of all of this new data with our colleague on the Clinical Development Group, Dr. Gary Schwartz, Chief of the Melanoma & Sarcoma Service unit at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York."
Results from the NCI-60 screen for GAP-107B8's anti-proliferative effect on ovarian cancer are also consistent with positive data announced by PharmaGap on August 6, 2009 from studies undertaken by Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.
As was announced by the Company on August 13, 2009, based upon the very positive anti-proliferative effect of GAP-107B8 on cancer cells in the one-drug dose study, the NCI has informed the Company that it has selected the compound for a "next phase" dose-response study at 5 concentration levels, so as to better characterize the effects of varying drug dose levels on individual types of cancer, a key element in determining the initial cancer target or targets and designing protocols for clinical trials in humans.
About The National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), located in Bethesda, MD is an institute of the National Institutes of Health, the primary U.S. Federal Agency for conducting and supporting medical research. The NCI has a mandate to select and screen novel drug compounds that could potentially make a material difference in the "war against cancer". Selection to the NCI screening program is through a competitive application process. Details on the NCI's compound screening program can be found at http://dtp.nci.nih.gov/. More general information on the NCI is found at www.cancer.gov.
About PharmaGap Inc.
PharmaGap Inc. (TSX VENTURE:GAP)(OTCBB:PHRGF), based in Ottawa, ON, is a biotechnology company with a core focus on developing novel peptide therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. PharmaGap's GAP-107B8 is a novel peptide drug designed to inhibit the activity of protein kinase C (PKC), a cell signalling enzyme implicated in certain types and stages of cancer. Independent peer-reviewed research has demonstrated that over-expression of PKC plays a role in the development of many cancer types. For more information please visit www.pharmagap.com.
Note: No Securities Commission or other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over PharmaGap has approved or disapproved of the information contained herein. This release contains forward looking statements that may not occur or may change materially.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
PharmaGap Inc.
Robert McInnis
President & CEO
613-990-9551
bmcinnis@pharmagap.com
www.pharmagap.com
PharmaGap Inc.
Robert McInnis
613-990-9551
info@pharmagap.com 
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