TAMPA, FL--(Marketwire - August 16, 2012) - CZ BioMed Corp. announced today that as of July 1, 2012, it has successfully entered into a worldwide licensing agreement with South Texas Technology Management (STTM) on behalf of The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio and The University of Texas System Board of Regents for exclusive use of U.S. Patent Application Number 20100303839, covering the methods and compositions for treatment of cancer using oncolytic Respiratory Syncytial Virus or (RSV) activity. This agreement, in conjunction with the U.S. and worldwide patents for which CZ Biomed has already applied, adds tremendous strength to the company’s existing patent portfolio of innovative oncolytic cancer treatments.
“This licensing agreement was an extremely important acquisition as it protects the precursors to our advanced work using a genetically engineered form of Respiratory Syncytial Virus or (RSV),” stated Calvin Cao, CEO of CZ BioMed Corp. “Sometimes existing work and patents are difficult to uncover early on, especially when produced through university research systems. We are extremely fortunate and proud to have the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio as our partner, as we bring our proprietary Genetically Engineered RSV to the forefront of cancer treatments.”
Oncolytic virotherapy is a promising treatment for cancer, in which carefully selected viruses are introduced to the body where they specifically infect and kill cancer cells only, without any adverse effects on normal healthy cells. Human RSV is a respiratory tract-specific virus (similar to the “common cold” virus) that primarily infects children (under 1 year of age), but it does not cause disease in young and older adults. This trait alone may prove CZ BioMed’s RSV-based treatments to be much more palatable and accepted by patients, as well as the medical community, compared with some much more dangerous viruses currently being investigated for their oncolytic properties.
The anti-cancer oncolytic activity of naturally occurring RSV was discovered by Health Science Center researcher Dr. Santanu Bose (Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology in the School of Medicine) and the technology was advanced by co-inventor Dr. Bandana Chatterjee (Professor of Molecular Medicine), also in the School of Medicine at the Health Science Center. The research and subsequent patent application clearly demonstrate that RSV, even in its unaltered state, is an ambitious oncolytic virus. CZ BioMed’s independent research and development over the past 4 years further support and enhance the University’s findings. CZ BioMed’s more advanced, genetically engineered version of RSV has successfully induced apoptosis (programmed cell death) in more than 50 cell lines composing 10 different types of cancer, both in vivo and in vitro. Ultimately, the results from human trials overseas have been extremely successful and exciting to date, with minimal side effects as compared to traditional chemo or radiation therapies. As a result of this milestone, CZ BioMed Corp. will now open aggressive discussions with all interested global bio-pharmaceutical leaders regarding partnership and licensing arrangements. Simultaneously, the company will begin IND (Investigational-New-Drug) filings with the United States FDA to initiate Phase 1 clinical trials.
About STTM:
STTM is The University of Texas technology transfer office serving institutions in South Texas. STTM provides leadership in promoting innovation and technology transfer through proactive management of intellectual property, technology development and commercialization to support the missions of member institutions, to advance regional economic development and to benefit the public. Please refer to www.utsttm.org to learn more about STTM or other innovative UT technologies.
About CZ BioMed Corp.:
CZ BioMed Corp. is a privately held Biotechnology company based in Tampa, FL, focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of a new class of high-tech biological products for the treatment of a wide variety of human cancers. CZ BioMed products use novel oncolytic viruses that have been genetically engineered to selectively target tumor cells, but not normal healthy cells. The mission of CZ BioMed Corp. is rooted in the knowledge of our invention with the products we provide positively affecting the quality of patients’ lives. Since everything we do, no matter how small, impacts the end product and ultimately people’s lives, we accept only the highest ethical and quality standards, both from ourselves and others.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The information in this news release includes certain forward-looking statements that are based upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations or any of its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause results to differ include, but are not limited to, successful performance of internal plans, product development acceptance, and the impact of competitive services and general economic risks and uncertainties.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
www.czbiomed.com/research.html (click on University of Texas Research tab)
CONTACT:
CZ BioMed Corp.
info@czbiomed.com
Phone: 813-600-4088
