Promising New Biotechnologies at Bio-Tech Israel 2002

[antiquity]

Promising New Biotechnologies at Bio-Tech Israel 2002


TEL AVIV, Israel--(BW HealthWire)--April 8, 2002--More than 3,500 people participated in the recent Bio-Tech Israel 2002 conference in Tel Aviv.

Israel's first National Biotechnology Week included a Scientific Program, Technology Exhibit and the Ernst & Young Conference on The Business of Life Science.

"With more than $1 billion in sales, Israel's biotechnology industry has already proven itself to be a leading world center," said Dr. David Haselkorn, Chairman of the Scientific Program and CEO of Clal Biotechnologies Industries. "The visionary new technologies presented at the conference show that the best is yet to come and that the industry has a deep pipeline of products in all stages of development and commercialization."

Among the new therapies presented:

Multiple Sclerosis: Immune-Intervention and Pharmacogenomics Towards Development of Personalized Medicine

The search for blood markers that serve as clues for disease activity and effectiveness of therapies for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The technology may lead to the development of personalized therapies for MS.

-- Dr. A. Miller, Neuroimmunology & Multiple Sclerosis Center,

Haifa

Dextrocanabinoids in Neuro-Inflammatory Diseases, Dexanabinol for Traumatic Brain Injury

Pharmos' Dexanabinol has ideal mechanisms of action for the prevention of secondary deterioration of neural tissue resulting from traumatic brain injury, for which there is no treatment. Pharmos has enrolled 55 centers to date in Europe for Phase III trials, to be completed by the end of 2003.

-- Dr. G. Riesenfeld, Pharmos

Cell Therapy, a Novel Method to Treat Spinal Cord Injuries

Interim Phase I trial results of Proneuron's Activated Autologous Macrophage Therapy for the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) have resulted in the recovery of sensory and motor function in the three original patients treated.

-- Dr. V. Fulga, Proneuron Biotechnologies

Hepatitis B and C: A Portfolio Approach

Phase IIa clinical trials involving XTL's monoclonal antibody therapy for the treatment of hepatitis B, in combination with Lamivudine have resulted in 60 percent of trial patients having undetectable levels of viral DNA after one month, versus 18 percent for Lamivudine alone.

-- Dr. S. Dagan, XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.

Gene Therapy for Fulminant Hepatic Failure: Converting Protein Therapy to Gene Therapy through the Selection of Liver Specific Delivery and Expression Systems

IL-6 has the potential to combat liver cell apoptosis and necrosis resulting in fulminant hepatic failure. However, IL-6 has severe side effects when delivered systemically. Using an FIV vector to deliver IL-6 gene directly to the liver is a gene therapy solution that has shown positive results in mouse models, without side effects.

-- Prof. E. Galun, The Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy,

Hadassah University Hospital

Cancer Immunotherapy: Evoking Recognition by Antibody-Mediated Immune-Stimulation

Cancer immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies, which are engineered to convey a specific therapeutic effect to tumor cells. Curetech's BAT (murine) monoclonal antibodies have exhibited anti-tumor activity against a wide range of tumor cells.

-- Dr. L. Klapper, Curetech

Lipid-Based Pro-Drug Products and Technology

D-Pharm's prodrug for the treatment of epilepsy is currently in Phase II clinical trials. The drug, which is a derivative of valproic acid, relies upon RAP (Regulated Activation of Prodrug) technology that renders modified drugs dynamically responsive to the pathological processes occurring in the course of the disease.

-- Dr. A. Kozak, D-Pharm

Preservation of Beta-Cell Function in New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes by Specific Immunomodulation with a Heat-Shock Protein Peptide

Peptor is to begin a multicenter Phase II clinical trial in the United States of its experimental diabetes drug DiaPep277. The peptide-based drug has been shown in a published study to stop the progression of type 1 diabetes by preventing the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells.

-- Dr. D. Elias, Peptor

Protein Kinases -- A Novel Paradigm for Drug Discovery

Keryx is targeting hormone resistant prostate cancer with KRX-123, the first lead compound generated using the company's KinAce drug discovery program.

-- Dr. M. Laster, Keryx Biopharmaceuticals

From Innate Immunity to Novel Cell-Selective Antimicrobial and Antitumor Peptides

Research into antimicrobial peptides that may provide a solution to the problem of microbial resistance. Studies show that the peptides studied have low toxicity and resist enzymatic degradation in the blood, making them potential candidates for therapeutics against microbial infection and cancer.

-- Prof. Y. Shai, Weizmann Institute of Sciences

For more information about the Scientific Program and abstracts please visit: http://www.kenes.com/biotech/scientific.htm.

CONTACT:

BioIsrael Communications Ltd.

Gili Alon, 972-9-7662602

fax - 972-9-7673543

email - gili@bioisrael.com