VG Life Sciences (OTC Pink: VGLS), has received approval from the
Institutional Review Board of the University of Texas Health Science
Center San Antonio to expand the types of cancers being studied in the
Company’s ongoing physician-initiated Phase 1 clinical trial. The IRB
action allows the study to immediately broaden scope to the treatment of
all solid tumors, which includes a wide and diverse range of cancer
types including breast, colon, lung, liver and pancreas cancer.
Effective immediately, principal investigator Dr. Tyler Curiel will
begin screening patients with all solid tumors to study the safety of
hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in combination with sorafenib (marketed as
Nexevar™ by Bayer AG). VG Life Sciences holds the exclusive worldwide
license to the body of patents underlying the use of MDT compounds in
the treatment of cancers.
Concurrent with receipt of IRB approval, noted oncologist Dr. Tyler
Curiel has announced that he will expand the study of HCQ into patients
suffering from relapsed or refractory (drug-resistant) cancers including
those of breast, colon, lung, liver and pancreas, and is now screening
patients for trial eligibility at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center
(CTRC) of the University of Texas Health Sciences Center San Antonio.
The protocol for the trial will remain otherwise unchanged, including
endpoints, dosing and follow-up evaluation.
VG Life Sciences’ Chief Scientist, Dr. Karen Newell Rogers, commented on
the Company’s progress in the clinical trials arena, saying, “The
initial work of Dr. Tyler Curiel utilizing this combination of VG Life
Sciences’ compound and sorafenib in ovarian cancer has been very
encouraging in terms of its safety. It is just what we expected and we
are enthused about expanding this to other cancer types, as well.”
Dr. Tyler Curiel, the lead investigator, said, “We now have approval to
use sorafenib and HCQ to treat all solid tumors. I have identified
candidate patients for this expanded protocol, and we are continuing
screening for potential enrollment.”
Dr. Curiel is an internationally recognized expert and speaker in tumor
immunology and in the humanities, has been a featured scientist on the
NOVANow Science Television program on PBS, and is the recipient of
numerous medical and civic service awards including the Mauveny Prize
for Cancer Research from Tulane University, the STARS Research
Enhancement Award from the University of Texas and the Health Care Hero
Award from the San Antonio Business Journal. Dr. Curiel holds membership
in a multitude of professional organizations and sits on the Editorial
Boards of several publications including The Journal of
Immunology and The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Haig Keledjian, VG Life Sciences’ CEO, said, “We are rapidly progressing
through the multiple stages in the validation of our science. Broadening
our safety and efficacy studies to include breast, colon, lung, liver
and pancreas tumors significantly expands the markets we are working to
address, and helps us move closer to bringing effective and efficient
treatments, that are more comfortably tolerated, to those seeking
treatment for these cancers.”
About VG Life Sciences Inc.
San Marino, California-based VG Life Sciences Inc., formerly known as
Viral Genetics, discovers and develops drug therapies from two
exclusively licensed platform technologies based on over 60 patents:
Metabolic Disruption (MDT) and Targeted Peptides (TPT). A
physician-initiated Phase I clinical trial of an MDT compound in
combination with Nexavar™ on Stage III and IV ovarian cancer patients is
ongoing at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center of The University of
Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. A majority-owned subsidiary,
VG Energy (www.vgenergy.net),
is dedicated to exploring biofuel and agricultural applications for the
MDT platform. Founded in 1994, the biotech company is researching
treatments for drug-resistant cancer, Lyme disease, Strep, Staph and
Sepsis, and HIV/AIDS. For more information, visit www.vglifesciences.com.
SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties associated with financial projections, budgets,
milestone timelines, clinical development, regulatory approvals and
other risks described by VG Life Sciences Inc. from time to time in its
periodic reports, including statements about its subsidiary, VG Energy,
Inc. None of VG Life Sciences Inc.’s drug compounds are currently
approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or by any comparable
regulatory agencies elsewhere in the world, nor are any
non-pharmaceutical products of VG Energy, Inc. commercialized. While VG
Life Sciences Inc. believes that the forward-looking statements and
underlying assumptions are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be
inaccurate, including, but not limited to, the ability of VG Life
Sciences Inc. to establish the efficacy of any of its drug therapies in
the treatment of any disease or health condition, the development of
studies and strategies leading to commercialization of those drug
compounds in the United States, the obtaining of funding required to
carry out the development plan, the completion of studies and tests on
time or at all, the successful outcome of such studies or tests, or the
successful commercialization of VG Energy, Inc.’s non-pharmaceutical
products. 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 Inc. will be
achieved. VG Life Sciences Inc. disclaims any obligation to update these
forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
