Amorfix Reports Update on Lead Ovarian Cancer Program

TSX: AMF

TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2013 /CNW/ - Amorfix Life Sciences, Ltd. announced today the results of recent preclinical studies which demonstrate that the Company's proprietary anti-ovarian cancer antibody, AMF-1c-120, when administered to live animals, targets and binds to tumors in a very localized and concentrated manner. This is a significant finding because it shows that the antibody retains its tumor-specific binding in a living body (in vivo).

Cancer cells were examined using a standard tool, immunohistochemistry, and the results showed excellent binding of the antibody specifically to its intended target, the misfolded prion proteins on the surface of the tumor. "These remarkable results show that our technology enables one to generate antibodies that selectively bind to living tumors and not to normal cells", said Dr. Neil Cashman, Amorfix Chief Scientific Officer, Chairman and Company founder. "These most recent results complement our earlier studies demonstrating a significant inhibition of ovarian tumor growth in a similar ovarian cancer animal model when AMF-1c-120 is conjugated to the toxin urease".

"We have now firmly established the proof of concept and validated the ProMIS discovery technology as a method to generate targeted therapeutics for the treatment of cancer", said Amorfix Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Robert Gundel. "I believe that the ProMIS™ discovery technology, a platform that cancer researchers can use to develop antibodies that specifically bind and kill tumors without the adverse side effects that are observed with conventional cancer treatments, is one of the most innovative and important new breakthroughs in cancer drug development. This is an exciting time for the Company as we continue to advance our therapeutic antibody programs through preclinical development".

These studies were performed using the ES-2 ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) tumor model. Clear cell carcinoma accounts for 5-13% of ovarian cancer cases in Western populations and 15-25% of cases Japan. OCCC has been shown to be associated with a poorer prognosis and is relatively resistant to conventional platinum-based chemotherapy when compared to other types of ovarian cancer. Thus, there is a great need for novel OCCC therapies. 

About Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women, and it causes more deaths than any other type of female reproductive cancer. Most deaths from ovarian cancer occur in women age 55 and older. Ovarian cancer is often not diagnosed until late-stage disease when the cancer has spread to other organs in the body, which contributes to the short survival time after diagnosis. Ovarian cancer is typically treated with surgery and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is not very effective as a treatment and is associated with a number of potential dose-limiting side effects due to its non-specific killing of both tumor and normal cells.

About Amorfix
Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. (TSX:AMF) is an early-stage product development company developing therapeutic antibodies and diagnostics targeting misfolded protein diseases. Amorfix utilizes its computational discovery platform, ProMIS™, to predict novel Disease Specific Epitopes (DSEs) on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Using this technology, Amorfix is developing novel antibody therapeutics and companion diagnostics for cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition, Amorfix has developed two proprietary technologies to specifically identify very low levels of misfolded proteins in a biological sample: Epitope Protection™ and AMFIA™, an ultra-sensitive dual-bead immunoassay. Use of these technologies has generated a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) screening test for both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and an ultrasensitive method for detecting the hallmark of AD, aggregated beta-Amyloid, in brain tissue, CSF and blood from animal models of AD. For more information about Amorfix, visit www.amorfix.com.

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This information release may contain certain forward-looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law.

ProMIS™, Epitope Protection™ and AMFIA™ are trademarks of Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.

SOURCE: Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.