Urocidin™ Phase III Clinical Trial Results Presented at AUA Conference in Washington, D.C.

CHADDS FORD, Pa. and BELLEVILLE, Ontario, May 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Endo Pharmaceuticals and Bioniche Life Sciences today presented Phase III trial results for the intravesical formulation of Mycobacterial cell wall-DNA complex (MCC), known as Urocidin™, during a podium presentation at the 2011 American Urological Association annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The preliminary results from the interim analysis of this prospective trial indicate that Urocidin™ may provide an alternative to cystectomy for patients with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) refractory non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

The preliminary results were generated from an interim analysis in an ongoing Phase III trial with Urocidin™ in the treatment of NMIBC that is refractory to BCG and at high risk of progression.

The Results

A total of 129 patients were enrolled from 25 centers in the U.S. and Canada, with high grade papillary tumors and/or carcinoma in situ (CIS) and having failed to respond to one or more courses of BCG. According to the preliminary results the overall one-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 25 percent. DFS is defined as lack of recurrence or progression to muscle-invasive disease, as confirmed by biopsy. The one-year DFS rate was 35 percent for patients with only papillary tumors and 21 percent for patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors. The preliminary results indicate that intravesical administration of Urocidin™ was well tolerated.

Ongoing Phase III Clinical Program with Urocidin™

Summary details of a Phase III clinical trial protocol with Urocidin™ being conducted by Endo are publicly available via the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) clinical trial registration service at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. This trial is actively enrolling eligible NMIBC patients.

About Bladder Cancer

In North America, bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and the fifth overall between both men and women. In the United States, approximately 70,000 patients are newly diagnosed with bladder cancer each year and 500,000 living patients have been affected. In Europe, more than 100,000 patients are newly diagnosed each year. Bladder cancer is frequently a recurrent disease, with some cases becoming refractory to available chemotherapeutic or immunotherapeutic agents and leading to cystectomy (bladder removal) or death. Approximately 70 percent of bladder cancer patients have the non-muscleinvasive form of bladder cancer. Collectively across the U.S., Europe and Japan, approximately 350,000 non-muscleinvasive bladder cancer patients are newly diagnosed or have a recurrence each year.

Non-muscleinvasive bladder cancer is a form of bladder cancer localized in the surface layers of the bladder that has not yet spread into the deeper muscle layer. This form of bladder cancer is treated predominantly by urologists using surgical resection and intravesical infusion therapy. Urocidin™ is an intravesical infusion therapy, administered via trans-urethral catheter into the bladder.

About Urocidin™

Urocidin™ is a formulation of MCC, a sterile mycobacterial cell wall-DNA complex composition that appears to have a dual mode of action: immune stimulation and direct anticancer activity. Urocidin™ is being investigated for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, where it is administered by trans-urethral catheter directly into the bladder. The agent is then able to directly interact with the cells of the immune system and bladder cancer cells. Industry Canada's Industrial Technologies Office (formerly Technology Partnerships Canada) has contributed to the development of Bioniche's mycobacterial cell wall technologies by means of a C$9.6 million loan to be repaid by Bioniche from sales. 

About the Endo-Bioniche Partnership

Endo holds exclusive global rights to develop and market Bioniche's patented formulation of Mycobacterial Cell Wall-DNA Complex (MCC), Urocidin™, being developed for the intravesical treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Under the licensing agreement, Bioniche received an up-front payment of US$20 million in July 2009, and became eligible to receive an additional US$110 million in milestone payments. Milestones are announced as they are achieved and, with its exclusive manufacturing supply contract, Bioniche provides clinical trial material and will also receive a net-sales-based revenue stream upon product approval.

About Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. is a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of proprietary products for human and animal health markets worldwide. The fully-integrated company employs more than 200 skilled personnel and has three operating divisions: Human Health, Animal Health, and Food Safety. For more information, please visit www.Bioniche.com.

About Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Endo Pharmaceuticals is a U.S.-based, specialty healthcare solutions company, focused on high-value branded products and specialty generics. Endo is redefining its position in the healthcare marketplace by anticipating and embracing the evolution of health decisions based on the need for high-quality and cost-effective care. We aim to be the premier partner to healthcare professionals and payment providers, delivering an innovative suite of complementary diagnostics, drugs, devices and clinical data to meet the needs of patients in areas such as pain, urology, oncology and endocrinology. For more information about Endo Pharmaceuticals, and its wholly owned subsidiaries HealthTronics, Inc. and Qualitest Pharmaceuticals, please visit http://www.endo.com/.

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SOURCE Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.