On May 3, 2017 MorphoSys AG Reported Solid First Quarter 2017 (Press release, MorphoSys, MAY 2, 2017, View Source [SID1234518809]). Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! Advancing number of programs in clinical trials reflects operational progress and maturing pipeline
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Conference call and webcast (in English) at 3:00pm CEST (2:00pm BST/9:00am EDT)
MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX; OTC: MPSYY), a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, today reported results for the first quarter of 2017.
"We have seen significant progress both with our own and our partners’ drug candidates in the first quarter of 2017. This was particularly evidenced by our partner Roche’s decision to start a new pivotal phase 3 program with the antibody gantenerumab in Alzheimer’s disease," said Dr. Simon Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys AG. "We expect 2017 to be a year rich in clinical read-outs from our pipeline, with key data from several phase 2 studies pending. We are optimistic about the market approval of guselkumab, an antibody against psoriasis being developed by our partner Janssen, which is under FDA review for approval with a decision expected in the second half of this year."
"If approved, guselkumab could start to contribute to our earnings in the form of royalties on product sales most likely starting early 2018," commented Jens Holstein, Chief Financial Officer of MorphoSys AG. "With our strong cash position, we will continue to drive forward our proprietary portfolio of innovative biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of serious diseases, in particular starting a phase 3 trial with our blood cancer candidate MOR208 this year. In addition, we expect that our maturing partnered portfolio will produce increasing cash inflows from royalties in the years to come."
Financial Review for Q1 2017 (IFRS)
In Q1 2017 MorphoSys continued to focus on the research and development of drug candidates both for its own account as well as with its partners. Group revenues amounted to EUR 11.8 million, in line with the level of the first quarter of 2016 (EUR 12.1 million).
In the Proprietary Development segment, MorphoSys focuses on the research and clinical development of its own drug candidates in the fields of cancer and inflammation. In Q1 2017, this segment recorded revenues of EUR 0.2 million (Q1 2016: EUR 0.1 million).
In the Partnered Discovery segment, MorphoSys applies its proprietary technology to discover new antibodies for pharmaceutical companies, benefiting from the partners’ development progress through success-based milestone payments and royalties. In Q1 2017, revenues in this segment reached EUR 11.6 million (Q1 2016: EUR 12.0 million).
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in Q1 2017 stood at EUR -14.9 million (Q1 2016: EUR – 9.7 million). As expected, the operational loss reflects increased activities in the clinical development of the Company’s proprietary drug candidates, in particular three phase 2 studies started with MOR208 in blood cancer indications after the end of Q1 2016. Accordingly, the Proprietary Development segment reported an EBIT of EUR -18.9 million after being EUR -14.3 million in Q1 2016. EBIT in the Partnered Discovery segment was EUR 7.3 million (Q1 2016: EUR 7.7 million).
In Q1 2017, the consolidated net result amounted to EUR -15.0 million (Q1 2016: EUR -7.2 million). The diluted net result per share for Q1 2017 was EUR -0.52 (Q1 2016: EUR -0.28).
At the end of Q1 2017, the Company had a cash position of EUR 349.9 million compared to EUR 359.5 million on December 31, 2016. On the balance sheet, this cash position is reported under the items: cash and cash equivalents; available-for-sale financial assets; bonds, available-for-sale; and current and non-current financial assets classified as loans & receivables.
The number of shares issued totaled 29,159,770 at the end of Q1 2017 (year-end 2016: 29,159,770).
Financial Guidance and operational outlook for 2017
For the financial year 2017, MorphoSys continues to expect Group revenues in the range of EUR 46 to 51 million. R&D expenses for proprietary drug development are confirmed to be in a corridor of EUR 85 to 95 million. The Company confirmed its guidance for earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR -75 to -85 million. This guidance does not include any additional revenue from potential future collaborations and/or licensing partnerships nor effects from potential in-licensing or co-development deals for new development candidates.
In the Proprietary Development segment, MorphoSys expects the following events in 2017:
– MOR208: Completion of the phase 2 safety run-in of the B-MIND clinical trial and initiation of the pivotal phase 3 part of the study, in which MOR208 will be tested in combination with bendamustine in comparison to rituximab and bendamustine in DLBCL.
– MOR208: Presentation of first data from the phase 2 trial of MOR208 in combination with lenalidomide in DLBCL (L-MIND study).
– MOR208: Initiation of the second study arm of the ongoing phase 2 COSMOS trial with MOR208 in CLL in order to test MOR208 with venetoclax. Currently, the Company is investigating the combination of MOR208 and idelalisib in this study.
– MOR202: Completion of the phase 1/2a dose-escalation trial in multiple myeloma, including MOR202 in combinations with pomalidomide and with lenalidomide.
– MOR209/ES414: Continuation of the phase 1 trial of MOR209/ES414 with an adapted dose regimen in prostate cancer (mCRPC) as part of the collaboration with Aptevo.
– MOR106: Completion of the phase 1 trial of MOR106, co-developed with Galapagos, in atopic dermatitis.
– MOR107: Completion of a phase 1 study in healthy volunteers.
– MOR103/GSK3196165: MorphoSys expects data from a phase 2b study in rheumatoid arthritis and from a phase 2a study in hand osteoarthritis, both conducted by GSK. This HuCAL antibody originated in the Company’s Proprietary Development segment, and has been fully out-licensed to GSK.
In its Partnered Discovery segment, MorphoSys expects the following events in 2017:
– Guselkumab: the first partner-developed therapeutic antibody based on MorphoSys’s HuCAL technology could receive market approval in 2017. MorphoSys expects the US regulatory authority FDA to make a decision in the second half of 2017 on Janssen’s application for the approval of guselkumab to treat adults with moderate to severe psoriasis. In addition, a regulatory filing for guselkumab in Europe has been submitted.
– Anetumab ravtansine, a HuCAL antibody drug conjugate being developed by Bayer, is expected to report results in 2017 from a pivotal phase 2 trial in the cancer indication mesothelioma. Favorable results could support a regulatory filing of the compound.
– Novartis collaboration: As previously communicated and as reflected in the Company’s 2017 guidance, the collaboration with Novartis will conclude at the end of November 2017 in accordance with the contract.
– For the remaining year, results may be disclosed from up to 27 different clinical studies in various phases conducted by partners with antibodies based on MorphoSys technology.
As always, MorphoSys is in discussions with other companies in the pharmaceutical industry about technology and/or product-based collaborations, with the goal of strengthening its participation in drug programs aimed at unmet medical needs.
MorphoSys Group Key Figures (IFRS, end of reporting period: March 31)
in EUR million Q1/2017 Q1/2016 Change
Revenues 11.8 12.1 -2%
Operating expenses 26.9 21.9 +23%
R&D expenses 23.3 18.6 +25%
Proprietary R&D expenses 19.2 14.6 +32%
G&A expenses 3.6 3.2 +13%
Operational loss (EBIT) -14.9 -9.7 +54%
Net loss (Net result) -15.0 -7.2 >100%
Net loss per share (diluted, in EUR) -0.52 -0.28 +86%
Cash position (end of period) 349.9 287.0 +22%
Equity ratio (end of period) (in %) 0.88 0.90 -2 PP*
No. of R&D programs (end of period) 114*** 104 +10%
No. of clinical programs (end of period) 30*** 26 +15%
No. of proprietary clinical programs (end of period) 6** 4** +50%
* Percentage points
** Thereof one proprietary program fully outlicensed to GSK (MOR103/GSK3196165)
*** Shortly after the end of the first quarter of 2017, MorphoSys has been informed that one program in the partnered discovery pipeline (tarextumab) was discontinued.
MorphoSys will hold its conference call and webcast today to present the first quarter 2017 financial results and the further outlook for 2017.
Dial-in number for the analyst conference call (in English) at 3:00 pm CEST; 2:00 pm BST; 9:00 am EDT (listen-only):
Germany: +49 (0) 89 2444 32975
For UK residents: +44 (0) 20 3003 2666
For US residents: +1 202 204 1514
Please dial in 10 minutes before the beginning of the conference.
A live webcast and slides will be made available at View Source
Approximately two hours after the press conference, a slide-synchronized audio replay of the conference and a transcript will be available on View Source
The interim statement for the first quarter of 2017 (IFRS) is available online:
View Source
Author: [email protected]
Selecta Biosciences Obtains License for Recombinant Immunotoxin LMB-100 from National Cancer Institute (NCI) for Pancreatic Cancer, Mesothelioma and Other Cancers
On May 2, 2017 Selecta Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:SELB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on unlocking the full potential of biologic therapies by avoiding unwanted immune responses, reported that it has licensed LMB-100, a next-generation immunotoxin, from the Center for Cancer Research (CCR) at the NCI, part of the National Institutes of Health. LMB-100 contains a potent bacterial toxin that binds to mesothelin, a protein expressed in all mesotheliomas, pancreatic adenocarcinomas and a high percentage of other malignancies, including lung, breast and ovarian cancers. Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! "This marks yet another major milestone for Selecta as we execute on our strategy to enable a range of proprietary, non-immunogenic biologic therapies using our proprietary immune tolerance platform," said Werner Cautreels, Ph.D., President, CEO and Chairman of Selecta. "By in-licensing this promising clinical-stage product candidate, we are extending our footprint to include oncology, where the efficacy of many biologic treatments is hampered by immunogenicity. Based on our preclinical work with NCI, we believe a combination treatment of LMB-100 and our proprietary SVP-Rapamycin may allow patients with rare, serious and aggressive forms of cancer to tolerate and benefit from multiple immunotoxin treatment cycles."
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CCR is in the process of completing two clinical trials of LMB-100 in patients with mesothelioma and pancreatic cancer that are intended, in part, to help define the maximum tolerated dose. For more information about these trials, call 1-800-4-Cancer (1-800-422-6237) (TTY: 1-800-332-8615) and/or visit View Source Initial data indicate that undesired antibody responses to the immunotoxin prevented most patients from receiving the intended four treatment cycles. While a precursor to LMB-100 was similarly restricted by immunogenicity despite the concurrent use of potent immunosuppressive drugs, tumor regression was observed in the only two patients who were able to receive more than two cycles of treatment. These results suggest that the mitigation of immunogenicity may enable more patients to benefit from LMB-100 therapy.
In 2016, preclinical research under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between Selecta and NCI demonstrated that the co-administration of SVP-Rapamycin and LMB-100 has the potential to enable extended treatment with LMB-100 and, therefore, enhance its anti-tumor activity. Selecta’s immune tolerance Synthetic Vaccine Particles (SVP) prevented the formation of anti-LMB-100 antibodies, allowing for the administration of repeat treatment cycles in mouse models and enabling the full beneficial effect of LMB-100 on tumors in a tumor model. Selecta and NCI are currently in discussions regarding a planned Phase 1b clinical trial to evaluate multiple cycles of this combination treatment.
Under the terms of the license agreement, NCI will receive an upfront payment of $50,000 from Selecta. NCI also is entitled to up to $9.25 million in payments for milestones and low single-digit royalties on worldwide annual net sales of any resulting commercialized treatment.
About Pancreatic Cancer and Mesothelioma
Pancreatic cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers and it is one of the few that is increasing in incidence and mortality. This type of cancer virtually always expresses mesothelin and has been linked to smoking, obesity and diabetes. For the year 2016, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that more than 53,000 new U.S. cases of pancreatic cancer were reported and that there were nearly 42,000 deaths in the U.S. from this disease. The prognosis for pancreatic cancer is poor, with approximately five percent of patients surviving five or more years following diagnosis.
Mesothelioma is a mesothelin-expressing cancer predominantly affecting the layer of tissue lining the lungs and chest wall. This type of cancer has been linked to asbestos exposure. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 3,000 people are diagnosed with this disease each year in the United States. The prognosis for mesothelioma is poor, with an average life expectancy of 12-18 months following diagnosis.
Altor BioScience Corporation Announces FDA Fast Track Designation for Lead Candidate ALT-803 in Patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
On May 2, 2017 Altor BioScience Corporation (Altor), a leading developer of novel cytokine-based immunotherapeutics for cancer and infectious diseases, reported that it has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its investigational interleukin-15 (IL-15) agonist complex, ALT-803, in combination with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), for the treatment of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) (Press release, Altor BioScience, MAY 2, 2017, View Source [SID1234518799]). The FDA’s Fast Track program is designed to expedite the development and review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill unmet medical needs. Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! ALT-803 is currently being evaluated in a Phase Ib/II clinical trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of intravesical ALT-803 in combination with BCG in adult patients with BCG-naïve NMIBC as well as a separate Phase II clinical trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of intravesical ALT-803 in combination with BCG in adult patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC. Results from the recently completed Phase Ib NMIBC study will be presented at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting in Boston on May 12, 2017. The FDA Fast Track designation will apply to clinical development of ALT-803 in combination with BCG for the treatment and prophylaxis of carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the urinary bladder, as well as for the prophylaxis of primary or recurrent stage Ta and/or T1 papillary tumors following transurethral resection (TUR) in patients with NMIBC.
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Hing C. Wong, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Altor BioScience, said: "We are thrilled that the FDA has granted Fast Track designation for ALT-803 in NMIBC. This is a key milestone for advancing our NMIBC program. Patients with NMIBC have few treatment options and there is a significant unmet medical need for novel therapies in NMIBC, particularly in patients who are unresponsive to BCG. We are looking forward to working closely with FDA to facilitate our clinical program in this important indication."
About ALT-803
ALT-803 is a proprietary, novel IL-15 superagonist complex, which demonstrates improved pharmacokinetic properties and enhanced anti-tumor activity compared to IL-15 in preclinical studies. These studies also demonstrated that ALT-803 simultaneously mobilizes both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system to elicit rapid, robust, and long-lasting responses against cancer and virally-infected cells. ALT-803 also potently activates NK cells and enhances antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of antibodies in various experimental models. Combination studies of ALT-803 with antibodies, targeted agents, and vaccines are underway and will further explore the role of ALT-803 in immunotherapy combinations for various disease indications. ALT-803 is currently being evaluated in multiple clinical trials for patients with solid or hematological tumors and in HIV infected individuals.
GlycoMimetics Announces Publication of Preclinical Data Showing Role of E-selectin Ligands in Multiple Myeloma
On May 2, 2017 GlycoMimetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: GLYC) reported the publication of results from a preclinical study that showed its drug candidate GMI-1271, an E-selectin antagonist, was able to restore sensitivity to bortezomib (the frontline standard of care for patients with multiple myeloma) in animal models of disease (Press release, GlycoMimetics, MAY 2, 2017, View Source [SID1234518798]). The study, entitled "E-selectin Ligands Recognised by HECA452 Induce Drug Resistance in Myeloma, which is Overcome by the E-selectin Antagonist, GMI-1271," was published in an online preview of the journal Leukemia on April 25, 2017. Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! E-selectin ligands are recognized by an antibody known as HECA452. In this manuscript, researchers described that E-selectin ligands expressed on myeloma cell surfaces and recognized by HECA452 induced a more aggressive form of multiple myeloma, which is insensitive to bortezomib. Through use of GMI-1271, sensitivity to the proteasome inhibitor therapy, bortezomib, was able to be restored in this highly resistant myeloma model.
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"The results in this preclinical study demonstrate that targeting E-selectin may provide a novel approach to treatment of patients with multiple myeloma and could potentially restore sensitivity to chemotherapy and, in particular, proteasome inhibitor therapy," said John L. Magnani, Ph.D., Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of GlycoMimetics.
GlycoMimetics is currently sponsoring a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in Europe in which patients whose multiple myeloma disease is resistant to bortezomib or carfilizomib can have GMI-1271 added to their treatment regimen to test whether sensitivity to the proteasome inhibitor can be restored. GMI-1271 is also currently being tested in a Phase 1/2 trial in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). GMI recently announced that updated data from this AML trial will be presented at the 2017 American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. As part of this AML trial, researchers are testing patient samples to determine whether levels of E-selectin ligand as measured by HECA452 correlate with response to treatment with GMI-1271.
"We look forward to presenting an update on our AML clinical trial at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting and to sharing what is known so far about E-selectin ligand expression in the context of that trial," said Helen Thackray, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of GlycoMimetics.
About Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is an incurable form of blood cancer where the plasma cells in the bone marrow grow uncontrollably and may not function well while other blood forming cells (e.g., white/red blood cells and blood platelets) are suppressed. Normal plasma cells are an important part of the body’s immune defense and play a critical role in the production of antibodies. Multiple myeloma can therefore lead to infections, anemia, destruction of bone tissue and kidney problems. While some advances have been made in treatment, there remains a large unmet medical need for patients with multiple myeloma.
About GMI-1271
GMI-1271 is designed to block E-selectin (an adhesion molecule on cells in the bone marrow) from binding with blood cancer cells as a targeted approach to disrupting well-established mechanisms of leukemic cell resistance within the bone marrow microenvironment. Preclinical research points to the drug’s potential role in blocking E-selectin-mediated chemo-resistance pathways as well as moving cancerous cells out of the protective environment of the bone marrow where they hide and escape the effects of chemotherapy.
NATIVIS RESEARCH PARTNER PUBLISHES FINDINGS ON NEW BRAIN CANCER TREATMENT IN JOURNAL OF NEURO-ONCOLOGY
On May 2, 2017 Nativis Inc., a clinical stage life science bio-electronics company developing non-invasive, safe and highly effective treatments for cancers and other serious diseases, reported the peer reviewed publication of a research paper in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology (JNO) on a novel technology to treat brain cancer Nativis Inc., a clinical stage life science bio-electronics company developing non-invasive, safe and highly effective treatments for cancers and other serious diseases, reported the peer reviewed publication of a research paper in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology (JNO) on a novel technology to treat brain cancer (Press release, Nativis, MAY 2, 2017, View Source [SID1234518797]). Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! Leading the efforts behind the research paper were Charles Cobbs, MD, Chair of the Nativis Medical & Scientific Advisory Board and Director of the Ben & Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment at Swedish Neuroscience Institute, and Michael Prados, MD, Director of Translational Research at the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. The article in JNO provided data by the research team identifying the significance of using the Nativis Voyager technology electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the ultra-low radio frequency energy (ulRFE) range to affect brain cancer cells at the molecular level. This technology was used to demonstrate the specificity and cellular effects on human derived glioblastoma (GBM) brain cancer cells. It was shown that this technology can specifically knock down EGFR gene expression, with resulting biological effects, in human primary (GBM) cells by exposing these cells to physical-EGFR siRNA and RFE-siEGFR signal. EGFR is a commercially proven target with multiple bio-pharmaceutical products approved to treat several different types of cancer.
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"Brain cancer is known to be one of the most difficult cancers to treat due to the blood-brain barrier that makes delivery of pharmaceutical treatment difficult and ineffective," said Dr. Cobbs. "The Nativis Voyager technology delivers treatment via electronic signal, therefore by-passing the problems of delivering standard chemotherapy, and other drug treatment and the accompanying harsh physical effects that patients suffer."
"We continue to be encouraged about our Voyager technology to treat brain cancer as this research paper demonstrates," said Chris Rivera, Chief Executive Officer of Nativis. "These findings are the first, to our knowledge, that demonstrate specific molecular gene knockdown using ulRFE energy. Our strategy is to replicate the biological effects of commercially approved drugs and other therapeutic agents with our ulRFE technology. We have several research collaborations in the US and globally for work on human health, as well as other markets and sectors, including veterinary and plant science. It appears that our technology may be utilized in many ways and over multiple platforms to treat disease and other maladies. With the successful development of our ulRFE technology for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a very complex and difficult area to treat, the impact for patients with GBM and other diseases could be monumental."
Further comments were made by Nativis Medical and Scientific Board Member Victor Levin, MD, Founder of the Society of Neuro Oncology (SNO) and Emeritus Professor of Neuro-Oncology at The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. "This research is very important as it provides additional support for the importance of this technology to patients with CNS cancers and other tumors. The application of this research provides, for the first time, the possibility of treating human diseases with low energy electromagnetic field technology that can reduce the production of signaling proteins within tumor cells. Given that new drug development is almost absent for CNS cancers and those available today are of limited efficacy and produce a wide range of side effects making creating effective drug combinations difficult, the RFE approach is truly a bright light for patients in the future. This is true for brain cancer and likely equally true for other diseases affecting the brain. The implications and possible uses of this novel approach cannot be underestimated," Dr. Levin added.
The abstract of this paper can be seen at View Source." target="_blank" title="View Source." rel="nofollow">View Source
Leading the efforts behind the research paper were Charles Cobbs, MD, Chair of the Nativis Medical & Scientific Advisory Board and Director of the Ben & Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment at Swedish Neuroscience Institute, and Michael Prados, MD, Director of Translational Research at the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. The article in JNO provided data by the research team identifying the significance of using the Nativis Voyager technology electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the ultra-low radio frequency energy (ulRFE) range to affect brain cancer cells at the molecular level. This technology was used to demonstrate the specificity and cellular effects on human derived glioblastoma (GBM) brain cancer cells. It was shown that this technology can specifically knock down EGFR gene expression, with resulting biological effects, in human primary (GBM) cells by exposing these cells to physical-EGFR siRNA and RFE-siEGFR signal. EGFR is a commercially proven target with multiple bio-pharmaceutical products approved to treat several different types of cancer.
"Brain cancer is known to be one of the most difficult cancers to treat due to the blood-brain barrier that makes delivery of pharmaceutical treatment difficult and ineffective," said Dr. Cobbs. "The Nativis Voyager technology delivers treatment via electronic signal, therefore by-passing the problems of delivering standard chemotherapy, and other drug treatment and the accompanying harsh physical effects that patients suffer."
"We continue to be encouraged about our Voyager technology to treat brain cancer as this research paper demonstrates," said Chris Rivera, Chief Executive Officer of Nativis. "These findings are the first, to our knowledge, that demonstrate specific molecular gene knockdown using ulRFE energy. Our strategy is to replicate the biological effects of commercially approved drugs and other therapeutic agents with our ulRFE technology. We have several research collaborations in the US and globally for work on human health, as well as other markets and sectors, including veterinary and plant science. It appears that our technology may be utilized in many ways and over multiple platforms to treat disease and other maladies. With the successful development of our ulRFE technology for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a very complex and difficult area to treat, the impact for patients with GBM and other diseases could be monumental."
Further comments were made by Nativis Medical and Scientific Board Member Victor Levin, MD, Founder of the Society of Neuro Oncology (SNO) and Emeritus Professor of Neuro-Oncology at The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. "This research is very important as it provides additional support for the importance of this technology to patients with CNS cancers and other tumors. The application of this research provides, for the first time, the possibility of treating human diseases with low energy electromagnetic field technology that can reduce the production of signaling proteins within tumor cells. Given that new drug development is almost absent for CNS cancers and those available today are of limited efficacy and produce a wide range of side effects making creating effective drug combinations difficult, the RFE approach is truly a bright light for patients in the future. This is true for brain cancer and likely equally true for other diseases affecting the brain. The implications and possible uses of this novel approach cannot be underestimated," Dr. Levin added.
The abstract of this paper can be seen at View Source