Quest PharmaTech Receives Support from National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) to develop Ultrasound Technology for the Treatment of Cancer

    EDMONTON, April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Quest PharmaTech Inc.
 ("Quest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will receive
 generous support from NRC-IRAP towards the development of Quest's
 Sonodynamic Therapy (SDT) for oncology applications.
 
     Sonodynamic Therapy arises out of the Company's long-term interest in
 Hypocrellin-based photodynamic therapy for oncology and skin diseases. The
 Company's lead compound, SL017, with Intense Pulse Light is currently being
 evaluated for hair removal applications in a 90 patient Phase II clinical
 trial. A second product, SL052, in combination with laser light activation
 is in late-stage pre-clinical development for prostate cancer treatment and
 is scheduled to enter a Phase I clinical trial during the second half of
 2008. Both products can also be activated by ultrasound.
 
     SDT involves the administration of non-toxic pharmaceutical agents
 which may be activated deep within the body, by ultrasound, which is in
 itself non-toxic. The attractive features of this technology for cancer
 treatment emerges from the ability to focus the ultrasound energy on
 malignancy sites buried deep in tissues and to locally activate a preloaded
 sonosensitizer. The goal of SDT is to provide effective and specific
 eradication or control of tumors, while minimizing or eliminating toxicity
 and morbidity to the remainder of the patient.
 
     Financial support of up to $198,362 from NRC/IRAP will help the Company
 to obtain proof-of-concept for the use of its proprietary Hypocrellin-based
 compounds for Sonodynamic Therapy applications. Technology development will
 also include new formulations involving nanoparticles and development of
 unique ultrasound transducers. In addition to the financial support, IRAP
 will continue to play an advisory role in acquiring complementary
 technologies to commercialize SDT-based products. The overall program will
 be coordinated by Dr. Gerald Miller, Executive Consultant to the Company
 and former Research Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical
 Sciences, University of Alberta.
 
     "It is the strategy of the Company to add value to its oncology program
 by expanding the utility of Hypocrellin-based products for Immuno
 Photodynamic Therapy and Sonodynamic Therapy applications", said Dr. Madi
 R. Madiyalakan, CEO of the Company. "The current funding from NRC/IRAP, and
 recently signed collaborative research agreement with British Columbia
 Cancer Agency will help us accomplish that objective in an efficient
 manner", added Dr. Madiyalakan.
 
     The Company also announces that it has retained the consulting services
 of Dr. Graeme Boniface to help accelerate its clinical trial program. Dr.
 Boniface was previously Senior Director of Clinical research at QLT Inc. in
 Vancouver, where he led the clinical development of several
 photosensitizers for oncology indications. Dr. Boniface brings more than 25
 years of experience in conducting clinical trials throughout the world.
 Additionally, the Company believes that its partnership with Paramount
 Biosciences for dermatology program will help achieve its long-term growth
 objectives, including additional clinical trials for dermatology
 applications.
 
     About Quest PharmaTech Inc: Quest PharmaTech Inc. is a publicly traded
 (TSX Venture Exchange: QPT), Alberta-based pharmaceutical company committed
 to build shareholder value through discovery, development and
 commercialization of new pharmaceutical products. It is developing a series
 of products for the treatment of cancer and dermatological conditions based
 on its unique photodynamic and sonodynamic therapy platform.
 
     "TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the
 
     information contained herein."
 
 
 

SOURCE Quest PharmaTech Inc.