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PharmaGap Inc.: Results from NCI Five-Dose Study of PharmaGap Cancer Drug Expected Late September

^{Published on 2009-09-02 05:22:44 - Market Wire}
 

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 2, 2009) - PharmaGap Inc. (TSX VENTURE:GAP)(OTCBB:PHRGF) ("PharmaGap" or "the Company") today announced that results are expected in late September from the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI) follow-up study of the company's lead drug GAP-107B8.

Results from the initial NCI single dose study released on August 24 showed greater than 50% effect of GAP-107B8 in reduction of cancer cell growth in 26 of the 57 human cancer cell lines tested. Compelling results were found in all 9 cancer types tested, with very positive results in melanoma, breast, central nervous system, and prostate cancers.

The initial test used a single low dose (10 uM) to evaluate the effect of GAP-107B8 against the 57 cancer cell lines in the test. In specific melanoma, breast, central nervous system, and prostate cancer cell lines, growth inhibition of 100% was observed (announcement of results can be found on the Company's website [ www.pharmagap.com ]).

Following these compelling results in the initial one-dose testing protocol, GAP-107B8 was selected for testing by the NCI in the same NCI-60 tumour cell panel using five dose concentrations. This range of doses is intended to further examine the drug's effectiveness in human cancer tumour cells, to allow further characterization of the drug's activity against various cancer types, and to provide insight into its method of action.

The NCI-60 protocol tests a wide variety of cancers, including breast, colorectal, lung, ovarian, kidney, prostate, leukemia and various central nervous system cancers and melanomas.

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: 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. 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.