BW1289 JUL 18,1996 11:17 PACIFIC 14:17 EASTERN
( BW)(ALFACELL)(ACEL) ALFACELL scientists report on characterization
of a natural variant of ONCONASE; Data presented at 4th International
Ribonuclease Conference
Business Editors & Medical Writers
BLOOMFIELD, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 18, 1996--ALFACELL Corp.
(OTCBB:ACEL) announced today that research results from ALFACELL as
well as a number of independent collaborators from the National
Institutes of Health including the National Cancer Institute were
presented at the 4th International Ribonucleases: Chemistry,
Biology, Biotechnology conference, July 14-18, 1996 in Groningen,
Holland.
The research presented included new pre-clinical findings on the
cytotoxicity and anti-viral activity of ONCONASE(R), as well as
structure and function studies of ONCONASE and its natural variant.
ONCONASE, a novel ribonuclease (RNase), is currently in Phase III
clinical trials.
The presentation "Anti-Tumor Ribonucleases, Characterization of
a Natural Variant of ONCONASE" made by Dr. Wojciech Ardelt,
ALFACELL's Director of Biochemistry, reported on the discovery and
characterization including (structure and function studies) of
ONCONASE and its natural variant. The variant also exhibited
anti-proliferative (inhibition of cancer growth) and cytotoxic (cancer
cell death) activity against human cancer cell lines such as
submaxillary gland carcinoma and bladder carcinoma.
"The knowledge we have gained from these structure and function
studies play a vital role in our genetic engineering program to
develop the next generations of ONCONASE-based RNase products for
therapeutic applications," stated Dr. Ardelt.
Developed by ALFACELL scientists, ONCONASE(R) is a structurally
and functionally novel RNase protein used in the investigational
treatment of patients with solid tumors, most of which are resistant
to other chemotherapeutic drugs. ONCONASE, the only cytotoxic RNase
currently in clinical trials, has been used in the treatment of over
350 patients with a variety of solid tumors and has demonstrated
activity in multiple-drug resistant (MDR) tumor lines as well as in
vivo activity in MDR tumor models. MDR is thought to be responsible
for approximately 90% of chemotherapy failures. The company is
currently conducting multi-center Phase III clinical trials in
advanced pancreatic cancer patients as well as a
multi-center Phase II trial in malignant mesothelioma patients.
ALFACELL Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company located in
Bloomfield, N.J. is engaged primarily in the research and
development of novel ribonuclease enzymes for various therapeutic
applications. The company's common stock is traded in the
over-the-counter market under the symbol "ACEL".
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