VANCOUVER,
Dec. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - iCo
Therapeutics (TSX-V: ICO), today announced that on November 26, 2013, U.S. patent 8,592,382 was
issued for the Oral Amphotericin B platform (Oral AmpB) providing
protection around oral delivery of the drug. With the recent
receipt of ethics approval, the Oral AmpB technology is also moving
into in vitro testing with study partners in Montreal, and will examine the role of this
formulation in targeting latent HIV reservoirs which remain in
individuals despite enormous therapeutic advances in the treatment
of HIV/AIDS.
Recruitment of eight HIV-infected subjects
successfully treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy
(HAART) with detectable latent viral reservoir is expected to be
complete in the first half of 2014.
"The current use of Amphotericin B has been
limited due to its historical kidney toxicity and intravenous
delivery and yet it is a potent anti-fungal and anti-parasitic drug
with potentially much broader application if side adverse effects
are tamed," said Andrew Rae,
President & CEO of iCo Therapeutics. "This Oral AmpB
delivery platform and approach, developed by Dr. Kishor Wasan at the University of British Columbia, has the potential
to reduce toxicity issues and move the drug beyond the acute care
setting, as well as to additional indications."
"These are important milestones for the Oral
AmpB technology and we are very pleased by this development and
potential new HIV indication," stated Dr. Wasan, Professor and
Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies for the Faculty of
Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director, Neglected Global Diseases
Initiative at The University of British
Columbia.
About iCo Therapeutics
iCo Therapeutics in-licenses and redefines existing drug candidates
or generics by employing reformulation and delivery technologies
for new or expanded use indications. The company has exclusive
worldwide rights to two drug candidates - iCo-007 for Diabetic
Macular Edema (DME) and iCo-008 for other sight-threatening
diseases. iCo-007 is in Phase 2 clinical studies for DME. With
Phase 2 clinical history, iCo-008 is targeted for the treatment of
keratoconjunctivitis and wet age-related macular degeneration. In
addition, iCo holds worldwide rights to an oral drug delivery
platform. The first platform candidate is the Oral Amp B Delivery
system, utilizing a known anti-fungal drug to treat
life-threatening infectious diseases. iCo trades on the TSX
Venture Exchange under the symbol "ICO". For more
information, visit the Company website at:
www.icotherapeutics.com.
No regulatory authority has approved or
disapproved the content of this release. The TSX Venture
Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this press release may be
considered forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be
identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan,"
"goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect,"
"strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will," and
similar references to future periods. Such statements involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual results, performance or achievements to be materially
different from those implied by such statements, and therefore
these statements should not be read as guarantees of future
performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on
iCo's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and
information currently available to iCo and relate to, among other
things, anticipated financial performance, business prospects,
strategies, regulatory developments, market acceptance and future
commitments. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, which are based only on
information currently available to iCo and speak only as of the
date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties,
including the risks and uncertainties identified by iCo in its
public securities filings and on its website, actual events may
differ materially from current expectations. iCo disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
SOURCE iCo Therapeutics Inc.
