RICHMOND, British Columbia, September 17th., 2008 -- BioCurex Inc. (OTCBB: BOCX - News) -- today announced that the Australian Patent Office has issued a notice of acceptance for a divisional application of our original patent filing.
This is the first patent awarded to BioCurex for the development of therapeutic applications of its RECAF technology. All proprietary protection had previously only covered diagnostic applications, and this approval from the Australian Patent Office is a milestone for the company in an important field of application.
The original filing contained claims related to both diagnostics and therapeutics. During the reviewing process, the mixed nature of the claims resulted in a split (technically known as a divisional application) of the claims in two separate patent files while maintaining the original date. The diagnostic patent application was granted by the Australian Patent Office before and now, the divisional containing the claims for therapeutic applications have also been approved. The process of filing a divisional is a fairly common practice. We expect similar outcomes in other territories where we have divisional pending applications.
BioCurex has proprietary technology on the uses of a molecule called RECAF that is present on the surface and inside cancer cells – though which are mostly absent from healthy cells as well as benign tumor cells. Cancer cells release some RECAF into the blood stream and this has allowed us to develop a blood test for cancer that detects approximately 90% of patients with malignancies at the standard specificity of 95% (5% false positives).
The presence of RECAF also on the surface of malignant cells allows for the specific targeting of a cancer. That is, there is no collateral damage to healthy cells known as “side effects” produced by traditional chemotherapy. Antibodies are particularly suited to target specific molecules and approximately 20 have already been approved by the FDA. Applications range from arthritis (Humira®) to cancer (Rituximab®, certain lymphomas and leukemias). Anti-cancer antibody-based therapies represent a multi-billion dollar market size.
Previous work in animals and a small number of patients have shown that malignant tumors can be imaged after injecting a radioactive tracer attached to a molecule that recognizes RECAF. Some of these results have been confirmed and published by other academic research laboratories. This suggests that cancers might be specifically irradiated after treatment with a heavily radio-labeled anti-RECAF antibody.
We have also shown at an international cancer congress that 100% of cancer cells in culture can be killed by anti-RECAF antibodies carrying killing agents, while over 80% of normal cells are unaffected. Earlier work also produced very significant results following the injection of anti-RECAF antibodies into animals with cancer.
The data are still very preliminary and therefore they require further confirmation before any firm conclusions can be drawn. However, the issuance of this first patent allowance is a significant step in moving in that direction because it facilitates approaching major pharmaceutical companies interested in licensing this type of targeted cancer therapy. BioCurex has already secured licenses for its diagnostic tests with Abbott Labs [ABT] and Inverness Medical Innovations [IMA]).
Biocurex is already working on therapeutic applications, an initiative that will be largely expanded once the diagnostic applications are marketed.
About BioCurex:
BioCurex, Inc. is a biotechnology company that is developing
products based on patented/proprietary technology in the areas of
cancer diagnosis, imaging and therapy. The technology identifies a
cancer marker known as RECAF(tm), which is found on malignant
cells from a variety of cancer types but is absent in most normal
or benign cells.
BioCurex has signed licensing agreements for its cancer
detection blood tests with Abbott Laboratories and with Inverness
Medical Innovations (for further information on these agreements
see:
http://sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1092562/000100487808000117/sb2amnd4s1april08.txt).
The cancer marker RECAF(tm) has emerged as a potential
biomarker that may be useful in the development of new cancer
diagnostics tests. Preliminary studies from the investigators at
BioCurex have reported a high level of clinical sensitivity and
specificity for RECAF in many of the most common cancers,
including prostate, breast, colorectal, lung and others.
To read more about the Company, please visit the News section
in our web site (http://www.biocurex.com).
Note: The Company has not authorized the release of this
information in any form that contravenes the Communication Act and
will not be responsible for unsolicited massive distribution of
this material by e-mail or facsimile by unauthorized parties.
Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts,
are ``forward-looking statements'' within the meaning given to
that term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be
subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Since these
statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to
change at any time, the Company's actual results could differ
materially from expected results.
Contact:
Ricardo Moro
BioCurex, Inc.
Tel: (604) 207 9150
