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Epistem Presents Further Data Supporting Its Pl...
Epistem Presents Further Data Supporting Its Pl....
About this update from Genedrive Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \n\n\n\nData on the effects of gemcitabine on epithelial tissue released\n\nMANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - June 02, 2009) - Epistem\nplc (LSE: EHP), the UK biotechnology and contract research company,\nwill present preclinical results from its recently completed plucked\nhair biomarker study at the Institute of Cancer Research Centenary\nConference, in Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, UK on\n8th to 10th June 2009. This study was completed successfully on\ngemcitabine, commonly known as Gemzar®. This therapeutic agent is one\nof a class of antimetabolite chemotherapy drugs designed to target\ncells that are dividing rapidly, including cancer cells, and is used\nto treat lung, pancreatic, ovarian, bladder and metastatic breast\ncancer.\n\nThe data will be presented by Dr. Ged Brady in poster p196 that will\nbe on display on 9-10th June 2009 and demonstrates that specific\ndrug-induced changes are caused by this therapeutic agent. These can\nbe monitored through the changes observed in gene expression in the\nepithelial tissue that is associated with a plucked hair. The Company\nhas already presented data on the ability of its plucked hair\nbiomarker technology to monitor the effects of another widely used\nchemotherapeutic agent, erlotinib, which belongs to a completely\ndifferent class of drug called epidermal growth factor receptor\ninhibitors.\n\nThis positive new data confirms the utility of the plucked hair\nbiomarker technology and its ability to monitor drug induced changes\nin epithelial tissue caused by different chemotherapeutic agents. The\nplucked hair biomarker platform provides a simple, minimally invasive\nmeans of monitoring the specific response of epithelial tissue to\nestablished oncology agents. This supports strongly the case for\nplucked hair as a valuable surrogate tissue in identifying, early on,\nthe best lead candidates to take into clinical development for a\nvariety of therapeutic agents in oncology. Furthermore, the plucked\nhair biomarker platform is now showing the potential to predict\nquantitatively the differential effects of new compounds in\ndevelopment versus both gemcitabine and erlotinib, as well as for\nother drugs in development which affect the growth of epithelial\ntissue in the clinical setting.\n\n\"Momentum continues to build as our plucked hair biomarker te...