Encouraging results from DAVANAT in combination with chemotherapies and biologics

Dec 15 2009

Pro-Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC:PRWP) today announced that the Brussels Branch of the Ludwig Institute of Cancer Research is testing the ability of DAVANAT^® to stop Galectin-3 from blocking the immune system’s action on cancer cells. Peer reviewed studies have demonstrated that Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 induce apoptosis (cell death) in immune system T cells (“Galectins,” Chapter 7, Wiley, 2008).

Dr. Pierre van der Bruggen’s team at the Ludwig Institute in Brussels, Belgium, leaders in cancer immunology research, shows that blocking the action of Galectin-3 improves the efficacy of T cells.

DAVANAT^®, the Company's lead compound, is a carbohydrate polymer that targets Galectin receptors that are over-expressed on cancer cells. Current research indicates that Galectins affect cell development and play important roles in cancer, including tumor cell survival, angiogenesis, tumor metastasis and the ability of the cancer cell to evade the immune system.

“Our experimental observations on cultured cells suggest that treatment of cancer patients with DAVANAT^® could correct T cell function and that combining DAVANAT^® with an anti-cancer vaccine could induce a more efficient and long-lasting anti-tumoral immune response,” said Dr. Pierre van der Bruggen.

“Collaborating with The Ludwig Institute represents an exciting opportunity to partner with a premier cancer research institution to further expand the use of DAVANAT^®, our novel, Galectin-targeting compound, to treat cancer in combination with a vaccine,” said Anatole Klyosov, Ph.D., Chief Scientist, Pro-Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “Our pre-clinical, Phase I and Phase II clinical trials have demonstrated the ability of DAVANAT^® to increase patient survival and reduce side effects of chemotherapy. This further validates the mechanism of action of DAVANAT^® as well as the critical role Galectins play in tumor progression.”

“We are encouraged by the results that DAVANAT^® demonstrated in our clinical trials in combination with chemotherapies and biologics,” said Theodore Zucconi, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Pro-Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “We plan to continue to validate our initial findings and to expand the use of DAVANAT^® to other cancer treatments and types of cancer. We are currently designing a Phase III superiority trial which will be part of our NDA submission to the FDA. We believe our expertise in developing compounds that target Galectin receptors offers opportunities for the advanced treatment of cancer, fibrosis and inflammatory diseases.”