Helix BioPharma awarded U.S. Patent for DOS47 adjunct chemotherapy applications

18-Sep-2007

Helix BioPharma Corp. announced the issuance of its second DOS47 patent (U.S. Patent No. 7,264,800) from the United States Patent & Trademark Office, describing a method and composition for combining targeted DOS47 therapeutics with weakly basic chemotherapeutic drugs in adjunct treatment applications.

"This patent offers a significant extension to Helix's DOS47 intellectual property position, opening up the possibility for expanded commercial opportunities," said Dr. Donald H. Segal, President and CEO of Helix. "We believe there is significant market potential to combine DOS47-based therapeutics with certain chemotherapeutic drugs in so-called adjunct regimens because DOS47 therapy is designed to counteract tumor acidity. Tumor acidity is a property that otherwise makes it difficult for weakly basic chemotherapeutics to penetrate cancer cells and function effectively."

With the granting of this second DOS47 patent, Helix now has patent protection covering the use of targeted DOS47-based therapeutics alone and in certain combined chemotherapy applications. Moving forward, the Company intends to pursue the development of DOS47 therapies for both applications, with a view to maximizing its DOS47 commercialization potential.

At present, Helix is focused on the development of its first DOS47-based cancer therapeutic ("L-DOS47") which specifically targets lung adenocarcinoma. Helix has previously presented scientific findings which demonstrated the ability of L-DOS47 to destroy lung cancer cells alone and synergistically with selected chemotherapeutic compounds. Helix continues to advance its manufacturing and preclinical development programs with a view to phase I human clinical testing. With this newly issued patent, the Company is well-positioned to potentially broaden its late stage clinical development program to include both monotherapy and combined chemotherapy applications for L-DOS47.

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