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New Hepatitis C Antiviral CB5300 Identified by Canopus BioPharma Researchers to Enter Clinical Trial Assessment
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LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Canopus BioPharma, Inc. (OTCPK: CBIA), a biotechnology company developing pharmaceutical products and assay methods for patients suffering from infectious disease, radiation sickness, cancer, and addiction, announced today that CB5300, its new antiviral drug candidate for treatment of Hepatitis C, will be entering into clinical trial assessment following successful in-vitro screening. The screening process was completed in September 2007 at a major contract research institute in Maryland, which resulted in a research report concluding that a family of molecules has been identified as potent inhibitors of flaviviruses.
Researchers performed the in-vitro examination of bovine viral diarrhea (BVDV), which is a flavivirus in the same family as human Hepatitis C virus (HCV). This approach was taken because HCV can't be grown in human tissue culture. Instead, BVDV is used as a model virus to determine if experimental compounds are efficacious in inhibiting viral growth.
Canopus BioPharma's in-vitro research report concludes: "In our experience no drug in this in-vitro system has been recorded to completely inhibit BVDV or act in any way superior to the compounds submitted by Canopus BioPharma. BVDV is a particularly aggressive virus, the most accurate model for Hepatitis C available."
CB5300 molecules have been previously approved for human use and used in the food industry since 1813, and are generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the United Stated Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other international food and drug regulatory bodies. Canopus BioPharma has patents pending incorporating these molecules as antivirals. Clinical trial centers specializing in HCV treatments in the United States and Australia have agreed to commission Phase II patient studies on behalf of Canopus BioPharma during the next six months.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Hepatitis C has been compared to a "viral time bomb." WHO estimates that about 180 million people, some 3% of the world's population, are infected with HCV, 130 million of whom are chronic HCV carriers at risk of developing liver cirrhosis and/or liver cancer. It is estimated that three to four million persons are newly infected each year, 70% of whom will develop chronic Hepatitis. HCV is responsible for 50%-76% of all liver cancer cases, and two thirds of all liver transplants in the developed world.
About Canopus BioPharma, Inc.:
Canopus BioPharma, Inc. (OTCPK: CBIA) is dedicated to providing the safest, most cost effective and efficacious pharmaceutical products and assay methods to patients suffering from infectious disease, bio-terrorism, cancer, and addiction. With innovative science, proven research and development leadership, and superior products and compounds, Canopus BioPharma has since 2001 been committed to becoming a market trend setter in the new era of healthcare, which is focused on providing affordable therapeutic and diagnostic benefits and pharmaceutical excellence to patients and healthcare professionals worldwide. In addition, the Company is a world leader in the development of novel camelid antibody products to provide unique avenues of progress and improvement in assay methods and monitoring capabilities for physicians, patients and researchers, particularly for food chain protection applications. Canopus maintains staff in Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Panama and the USA. Additional information on the Company is available at www.canopusbiopharma.com.
With the exception of historical information contained in this press release, content herein may contain "forward looking statements" that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. In particular, the Company may not be successful in its efforts commercialize or attain acceptable clinical results for its products. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include general economic conditions, delays and risks associated with the performance of contracts and research and development programs, uncertainties as a result of research and development, consumer and industry acceptance, litigation and/or court proceedings, regulatory risks including approval of Food and Drug Administration filings, the ability to achieve and maintain revenues and profitability in the Company's business lines, and other factors discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contacts
Canopus BioPharma
Len Rothstein, 818-980-5008
President
Fax. 818-980-5088
len@canopusbiopharma.com
or
Darrow Associates, Inc.
Jordan Darrow, 631-367-1866
Fax. 631-614-3612
jdarrow@darrowir.com
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