Celsion's ThermoDox Phase I trial data presented at 9th IHPBA World Congress

Apr 21 2010

Celsion Corporation (Nasdaq: CLSN) today announced that Dr. Thanjavur S. Ravikumar, from the Geisinger Health System and a principal investigator of the Phase I ThermoDox® dose escalation trial, gave an oral presentation at the Liver Tumors Panel session of the 9th World Congress of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The presentation, titled "A Phase I Trial of ThermoDox® in Patients Undergoing Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of Liver Tumors," provided a summary of the data as well as illustrative patient case studies.  The trial results not only support the use of ThermoDox® plus RFA for the treatment of primary liver cancer, but also provide supportive evidence for Celsion to evaluate the effects of ThermoDox in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).

"Eight out of the twelve patients we treated in this study had CRLM, some of whom had as many as nine lesions with multi-focal disease," said Dr. Ravikumar. "ThermoDox is a unique therapy that is showing great promise in treating this very aggressive disease. I look forward to providing long-term follow-up and a publication at a future date."

"CRLM is a major problem in the western hemisphere, just as primary liver cancer is in Asia Pacific," remarked Michael H. Tardugno, President & Chief Executive Officer of Celsion Corporation.  "We look forward to bringing ThermoDox to the market in the US, which will help address an estimated 300,000 cases of liver metastases, almost half of which come from colorectal cancer."

Celsion previously announced its plans to conduct a randomized Phase II CRLM study to further evaluate the efficacy of ThermoDox plus RFA.  This trial will be initiated later this year following the completion of enrollment in Celsion's pivotal Phase III HEAT trial for primary liver cancer trial.  "Local control in patients with liver metastasis is of interest to the medical community," noted Nicholas Borys, Celsion's Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.  "This study adds to the growing body of scientific data that ThermoDox may play an important role as an adjunct to liver tumor ablation."  

Dr. Ravikumar's oral presentation is available on Celsion's website at www.celsion.com/events.cfm.

SOURCE Celsion Corporation