VG Life Sciences Notes Major Achievements and New Grants in Third Quarter 2015
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Oct. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Dear Shareholders,
Here at VG Life Sciences (OTC-QB: VGLS), our mission is to save and improve lives through the development of transformative treatments for cancer, infectious diseases, and the chronic inflammation intrinsic to autoimmune diseases. We have made significant progress in a number of areas in the third quarter of 2015. We'd like to update you on our accomplishments.
Research
Hypertension
On July 28, 2015 Edward Inscho, Ph.D., from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, made an important presentation at Texas A & M University on using the VGLS patented drug VG1177 in research focused on the impact of inflammatory processes on renal microvascular function and hypertension.
Chronic inflammation is linked to hypertension, and kidney injury.
"Continued research focused on the immune system involvement may open novel therapeutic targets for inflammatory kidney disease and hypertension," said Inscho.
VG1177 is a synthetic peptide that is an antagonist to the MHC Class II-associated invariant peptide (CLIP) for binding to the MHC peptide binding groove.
VGLS Chief Scientist M. Karen Newell-Rogers, Ph.D., an inventor of VG1177, postulates that self-peptide binding to MHC plays a key role in chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hypertension, preeclampsia and traumatic brain injury.
Cancer
As reported previously, we have completed the Phase I clinical trial of our combination cancer therapy conducted at the Cancer Therapy & Research Center at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. This trial involved patients with solid tumors and examined the safety and efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in combination with sorafenib (marketed as Nexavar®), co-developed by Bayer AG and Onyx Pharmaceuticals. VGLS holds Patent No. 9073985 covering the combination therapy used in this trial.
In Phase I, tumor reduction and stabilization was shown in a number of patients in the third and fourth cohorts, all of whom had higher doses of the combination therapy. The design of this clinical trial allowed us to conclude that these positive effects can be attributed to the combination therapy and not sorafenib alone.
The University of Texas is now starting a Phase II of this important clinical trial.
Auto Immune Diseases
Research has continued at our laboratory at Texas A & M University under the direction of VGLS Chief Scientist M. Karen Newell-Rogers, Ph.D. In collaboration with research scientists from leading institutions around the country, Dr. Newell-Rogers is actively pursuing applications of VG1177 in autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory conditions.
Additionally, our laboratory is testing three new peptides, VG1196, VG1197, and VG 1198, based on our chemist's recommendations to pursue a version of VG1177 with enhanced stability, tolerability and solubility. These new peptides were received during the quarter from our pharmaceutical vendor Ambiopharm Inc.
Grants
Dr. Newell-Rogers was awarded $250,000 from the CURE Epilepsy Foundation to fund her research on the role of the immune system in post-traumatic epilepsy. She was also awarded $100,000 from an anonymous donor for further Lyme research. Both of these grants will test the efficacy of VG1177 in these diseases and its ability to reduce inflammation.
Financial
The Company's SEC attorney has recommended that VGLS increase the total number of authorized shares for compliance purposes and future planning. The total number of authorized shares will be increased to 300,000,000.
In Conclusion
The third quarter 2015 was busy and productive as VGLS continued to pursue its goals of moving its cancer therapy into Phase II clinical trials and expanded the research of its Targeted Peptide Technology (TPT) in combating autoimmune and infectious diseases.
In the fourth quarter of 2015 we will be focusing on completing a number of important studies so that we will be positioned to restart the animal safety studies of TPT in early 2016. Meanwhile, we will keep you updated with the latest news and exciting developments through company press releases.
Be well,
John P. Tynan
President & CEO
VG Life Sciences, Inc.
About VG Life Sciences Inc.
Santa Barbara, California-based VG Life Sciences, Inc., formerly known as Viral Genetics, is a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing drug therapies for cancer, infectious disease, inflammatory disease, and autoimmune disorders. VGLS controls over 40 U.S. and international patents and pending patents protecting its exclusive biotech platform technologies.
For more information and upcoming events, visit www.vglifesciences.com, or find VG Life Sciences, Inc. on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Safe Harbor Statement and Forward-Looking Statements: This news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties associated with financial projections, milestone timelines, clinical development, regulatory approvals and other risks described by VG Life Sciences from time to time in its periodic reports. None of VG Life Sciences' drug compounds are approved by the US FDA or by any comparable regulatory agencies elsewhere in the world. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by VG Life Sciences Inc. or any other person that the objectives and plans of VG Life Sciences will be achieved.
Contact:
Terri Somers
Somers Media
Phone: (619) 991-2369
Email: [email protected]
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SOURCE VG Life Sciences
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