HOUSTON, Jan. 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oncolix, Inc., (OTCQB:ONCX) announced today that the Company has sponsored additional research with MD Anderson Cancer Center. The research will evaluate ProlantaTM for the potential treatment of additional gynecological cancers, in particular uterine cancer. Previous research funded at the MD Anderson Cancer Center resulted in the discovery of the mechanism of action of ProlantaTM (autophagy) and preclinical evidence of efficacy in ovarian cancer.
“Because Prolanta has the potential to treat all gynecological cancers, it is only fitting that we expand our focus to uterine cancer,” said Michael T. Redman, chief executive officer of Oncolix. “Like ovarian cancer, more than 80% of uterine cancer cells overexpress prolactin receptors, which are the molecular target for ProlantaTM. Similarly, the unmet medical needs for uterine cancer are similar to ovarian cancer.”
Prolanta™ is being evaluated in an open-label dose escalation Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Patients are divided into three dosing groups, or cohorts. Each sequential cohort will evaluate a higher dose of Prolanta™. Patients will be evaluated over a 99-day period. Initial dosing for 28 days is followed by a two-week safety assessment period, and then continues for an additional 56 days if no toxicities are observed. The first cohort, treated with the lowest dose, was completed, and has shown no serious adverse events or dose-limiting toxicity. Earlier this January, the Company announced it is now recruiting the mid-dose patients for this trial. For more information about the Phase 1 clinical trial please visit: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02534922?term=Prolanta&rank=1
About Oncolix
Oncolix is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing Prolanta™ for the treatment of ovarian, uterine, breast and other cancers. The Company has a US FDA-cleared IND to commence human testing of Prolanta™ in its first indication, the treatment of ovarian cancer. This Phase 1 clinical trial is currently in progress. Prolanta™ is a prolactin receptor antagonist (or blocker) that has demonstrated efficacy in xenograft models through a unique mechanism of action, autophagy. In addition to ovarian cancer, there is strong preclinical evidence Prolanta™ may be effective in breast, uterine, prostate and other cancers. In the current Phase 1 dose-escalation safety trial for the treatment of ovarian cancer, to date there have been no observed serious adverse events and no dose-limiting toxicities. The FDA has approved the designation of Prolanta™ as an Orphan Drug for the treatment of ovarian cancer, which may result in reduced filing fees (currently $2 million), federal tax credits and marketing exclusivity.
Forward-Looking Statements
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Corporate contact:
Michael Redman
P: 281-402-3167
E: mredman@oncolixbio.com
Investor contact:
The Ruth Group
Robert Flamm, Ph.D. / Kristin Ko, Ph.D.
P: 646-536-7017 / 7036
E: rflamm@theruthgroup.com / kko@theruthgroup.com