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PharmaGap Inc.: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Testing of PharmaGap's Novel Cancer Drug Formally Underway

^{Published on 2009-09-17 05:22:09 - Market Wire}
 

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 17, 2009) - PharmaGap Inc. (TSX VENTURE:GAP)(OTCBB:PHRGF) ("PharmaGap" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute ("OHRI") is proceeding with an expanded testing program for the Company's lead cancer drug GAP-107B8. Dr. Vanderhyden is a senior cancer researcher at the OHRI with a specialized focus on ovarian cancer. She recently completed successful testing of GAP-107B8 in nine human ovarian cancer cell lines, as was announced by the Company on August 6, 2009.

Dr. Vanderhyden and her colleagues are now expanding their testing of GAP-107B8, using mouse models of human ovarian cancer. The initial phases of testing are focused on dosing range, routes of drug administration and cancer tumour targeting. Data gathered will be incorporated into studies assessing the drug's effect on slowing cancer progression and reducing tumour burden. Results of this testing program are anticipated over the next two quarters.

Robert C. McInnis, President and C.E.O. of PharmaGap said "We are pleased that the OHRI has elected to proceed with testing of GAP-107B8. Data generated by Dr. Vanderhyden in this study, along with the data generated at the U.S. National Cancer Institute ("NCI"), will provide key independently derived information to our Clinical Advisory Group as they guide our drug toward application to commence human clinical trials."

According to the NCI, ovarian cancer will affect over 22,000 women this year in the U.S. and over 14,000 will die. The five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is under 30%.

Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden is a Senior Scientist, Cancer Therapeutics at the OHRI and a Professor in the Departments of Cellular & Molecular Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Ottawa. She holds the Corinne Boyer Chair in Ovarian Cancer Research. She has published over 60 peer reviewed journal papers primarily in the area of ovarian cancer and collaborates extensively with many pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies focused on the development of therapies for ovarian cancer.

About the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) is the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital and is an affiliated institute of the University of Ottawa, closely associated with the University's Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences. The OHRI includes more than 1,300 scientists, clinical investigators, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and staff conducting research to improve the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human disease. For more information please visit [ www.ohri.ca ].

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.

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.