The day of dosing cancer patients with Kevetrin is drawing near according to news this morning from Cellceutix Corporation (OTCBB: CTIX). The Beverly, Massachusetts-based company said today that clinical trials for their novel anti-cancer drug have gone active at Harvard’s Dana-Farber Cancer Center and partner Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dosing should begin within Read More

There is starting to be a steady buzz across the web about Cellceutix Corporation (OTCBB: CTIX) and its novel cancer drug, Kevetrin™.  For starters, the p53-activating drug is on tap to begin dosing patients with solid tumors any day now in clinical trials at the vaunted Harvard University’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and partner Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.  Second, Cellceutix has reported that Beth Israel Read More

An article from August 13 by Seeking Alpha contributor A. Jackson discussed the state of big pharma’s pipelines and the potential of Cellceutix (OTCBB: CTIX) anti-cancer drug, Kevetrin, as it enters clinical trials at Dana-Farber and Beth Israel Deaconess. More acutely, Jackson details the relationship between Pfizer and Cellceutix and why the smaller biotech could be a logical acquisition target for the world’s biggest drug maker. Read More

Company Provides Update on p53 Compounds From Annual ASCO Meeting

Cellceutix Corporation (CTIX) (the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering small molecule drugs to treat unmet medical conditions, including drug-resistant cancers, is pleased to report that its Chief Executive Officer, Leo Ehrlich, and Cellceutix advisor Jim Boeheim, Read More

It was only about a week ago that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revoked the approval of Avastin® (bevacizumab) as a treatment for breast cancer.  This is not the end of the world for the Genentech, who was acquired by the Roche Holdings (OTCQX:RHHBY) for $46.8 billion in March of 2009, drug as it still retained its indications for colon, kidney, lung and brain cancer.  The revocation did, however, increase awareness for other breast cancer treatment candidates coming down the pipeline. Read More

PharmaGap Inc. (OTCBB:PHRGF, TSX-VENTURE:GAP) has hit a milestone in pre-clinical research for liposomal formulations of its cancer drug.  The formulations have been proven to meet and surpass expectations for potency, pharmacokinetic profile, and therapeutic index (the dosing range between effective dose and the dose at which toxic effects are seen).

Important data collected showed:

• Peptide half-life has been increased from a range of 0.4 to 0.7 for unformulated peptides to approximately 8 hours using intravenous administration and to approximately 40 hours using intraperitoneal administration.
• Liposomal associated peptide was detectable up to 72 hours post administration indicating that peptide remains in circulation for extended periods of time.
• Rats administered liposomes via the intraperitoneal route in the current PK study were observed for clinical signs over 72 hours and results indicate that liposomal formulations would be well tolerated over a wide dosing range (10-40 mg/Kg).

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2011, about 21,990 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed and 15,460 women will die of ovarian cancer in the United States.

PharmaGap VP of Clinical Development and COO Dr. Ken Sokoll commented,

Rapid metabolism and elimination of peptide drugs is known to be a major factor contributing to the failure of peptide drugs. Our ability to overcome this problem using these new liposomal formulations and demonstrating that we have viable formulations when administered by both the intravenous and intraperitoneal routes will be key factors in achieving success for our drug compounds.

PharmaGap (PHRGF) U.S. Stock Quote and News:

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Clearance of Sunshine Biopharma’s anti-cancer compound, Adva-27a, does not involve a toxic intermediate -
Sunshine Biopharma Inc. (OTCBB:SBFM) a development stage pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of various forms of cancer, today announced that it has completed another study of the mechanism of clearance of its Adva-27a in human liver microsomes in vitro. In the present study, an analysis of the metabolic intermediates generated during the clearance process was performed.The study focused specifically on the generation of Podophyllotoxin, a potentially very toxic intermediate. In addition, the study was performed as a side-by-side experiment in which Adva-27a was compared to Etoposide, a commonly used Read More

Cellceutix released additional news on Kevetrin™ that continues to impress.  This simple compound proved to reactivate p53, the “Guardian Angel of the Human Genome” as announced on Monday and today the news reports that Kevetrin is non-genotoxic.  Genotoxic drugs (which are the majority of chemotherapy drugs used today) destroy the cancer cell, but do damage to the surrounding area as well.  It could be somewhat likened to the idea of napalming a field to kill one plant in the middle.  While effective, it is not the ideal method of action to treat a disease.  Dr. Menon states in the press release that “the best is yet to come” and this could very well be true considering the promising path that Kevetrin™ is on presently.  Dr. Menon has a history of being behind blockbuster cancer drugs and it looks like he may be onto another one that appears to be even bigger.

The Press Release:

Cellceutix Cancer Drug Kevetrin Shows No Genotoxicity in Study

Cellceutix Corporation today announced that it has received more data on Kevetrin™, the Company’s flagship compound for the treatment of cancers. Analysis of the latest research shows Kevetrin™ is non-genotoxic, contrary to the majority of currently available chemotherapeutic drugs.  Genotoxic drugs affect nucleic acids and alter their function. These drugs may directly bind with DNA or may indirectly lead to DNA damage by affecting enzymes involved in DNA replication.  A DNA damaging drug results in rapid phosphorylation of H2A.X at Ser 139 by PI3K-like kinases.  Kevetrin™ did not induce phosphorylation of H2A.X protein; whereas, other chemotherapy drugs, such as Adriamycin, did induce the phosphorylation of H2A.X as shown by Western blot assay.

Research data announced earlier this week showed that Kevetrin™ reactivates p53, a key protein which plays a critical role in mediating cellular stress responses such as that brought about by DNA-damage. It is therefore vital in regulating a vast array of proteins involved in cell cycle progression, DNA repair, and apoptosis.

Dr. Krishna Menon, Chief Scientific Officer at Cellceutix, commented,

“This is another major breakthrough for Kevetrin. p53 activation is considered among the critical molecular events for cancer therapy. The fact that Kevetrin™ reactivated p53 and resulted in tumor suppression in animals with drug resistant cancers was a milestone in oncology on its own, but with Kevetrin™ now proven to be non-genotoxic, we believe this has set the compound at the forefront of developmental cancer therapies.”

Cellceutix is completing formulation production, scheduled for early March 2011, which would produce Kevetrin™ in the dosage form for planned clinical trials. The Company plans to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May 2011 with human trials to begin thereafter.

About Cellceutix

Cellceutix Corporation is a preclinical cancer, anti-inflammatory and autism drug developer. Cellceutix owns the rights to eight drug compounds, including Kevetrin, which it is developing as a treatment for certain cancers, KM-133, for the treatment of psoriasis, and KM-391, for the treatment of autism. More information is available on the Cellceutix web site at www.cellceutix.com.

This Press Release contains forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations, beliefs and assumptions about the industry and markets in which Cellceutix Corporation operates. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause Cellceutix’s actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these statements. Actual results may differ materially from what is expressed in these statements, and no assurance can be given that Cellceutix can successfully implement its core business strategy and improve future earnings.

Cellceutix Corporation (CTIX) Stock Quote and News: