SILVER SPRING, Md., May 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB:PMCB), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing targeted treatments for cancer and diabetes using its signature live-cell encapsulation technology, Cell-in-a-Box®, today announced that its Chief Executive Officer Kenneth L. Waggoner and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Gerald W. Crabtree will attend the American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) 51st annual meeting to be held May 29 through June 2, 2015, at McCormick Place in Chicago. The theme of this year's meeting is "Illumination & Innovation."
Kenneth L. Waggoner, the Chief Executive Officer of PharmaCyte Biotech, stated, "We believe that having PharmaCyte Biotech's senior management team at this year's ASCO annual meeting will be invaluable as we work to finalize the design of our three upcoming clinical trials - the Phase 2b clinical trial comparing our treatment for pancreatic cancer with the gold standard and the two clinical trials involving the serious symptoms that accompany advanced pancreatic cancer. The latter two will address the unbearable and, often times, untreatable pain from pancreatic cancer as well as the fluid (ascites) buildup in a patient's abdomen that must be removed on a periodic basis for patients to survive.
"Not only will Dr. Crabtree and I have the opportunity to interact with those with whom PharmaCyte Biotech will be working over the next two years, we will also be able to discuss our unique treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer and the current state of the design of our three clinical trials. All involve the combination of the Cell-in-a-Box® live cell encapsulation technology with low doses of the anticancer drug ifosfamide. We are looking forward to having this opportunity to interact with our colleagues in the pancreatic cancer field and to develop further relationships with those who are attacking this most dreadful of diseases."
ASCO is one of the world's largest organizations devoted to the advancement of treatments for all types of cancer. Its annual meetings are among the most well attended educational and scientific meetings in the world. Over 32,000 individuals worldwide have registered for this year's meeting, with 53% of these being from outside the United States. More than 26,000 of the total number of registrants are oncology professionals.
A record number (more than 5,900) of abstracts of presentations have been submitted for consideration by ASCO. At this meeting, reports of studies on all types of cancer will be presented. From PharmaCyte Biotech's vantage point, presentations on pancreatic cancer will be of paramount importance as well as presentations on enrolling patients in clinical trials and pain management.
In addition to scientists and clinicians, representatives from large and small pharmaceutical and biotech companies and Contract Research Organizations, all with an interest in cancer, will be in attendance. ASCO's annual meeting provides representatives from all areas of the cancer spectrum the chance to interact and offers an unparalleled opportunity for the free exchange of information among meeting attendees.
About PharmaCyte Biotech
PharmaCyte Biotech is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing and preparing to commercialize treatments for cancer and diabetes based upon a proprietary cellulose-based live cell encapsulation technology known as Cell-in-a-Box®. This unique and patented technology will be used as a platform upon which treatments for several types of cancer, including advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer, and diabetes are being built. PharmaCyte Biotech's treatment for pancreatic cancer involves low doses of the well-known anticancer prodrug ifosfamide, together with encapsulated live cells, which convert ifosfamide into its active or "cancer-killing" form. These capsules are placed as close to the cancerous tumor as possible to enable the delivery of the highest levels of the cancer-killing drug at the source of the cancer. This "targeted chemotherapy" has proven remarkably effective in past clinical trials.
PharmaCyte Biotech is also working towards improving the quality of life for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and on treatments for other types of solid cancerous tumors. In addition, PharmaCyte Biotech is developing treatments for cancer based upon chemical constituents of the Cannabis plant, known as cannabinoids. In doing so, PharmaCyte Biotech is examining ways to exploit the benefits of Cell-in-a-Box® technology in optimizing the anticancer effectiveness of cannabinoids, while minimizing or outright eliminating the debilitating side effects usually associated with cancer treatments. This provides PharmaCyte Biotech the rare opportunity to develop "green" approaches to fighting deadly diseases, such as cancer of the pancreas, brain and breast, which affect hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide every year.
Safe Harbor
This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding PharmaCyte Biotech and its future events and results that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan" and similar expressions, as they relate to PharmaCyte Biotech or its management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Important factors, many of which are beyond the control of PharmaCyte Biotech, could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. They include PharmaCyte's ability to continue as a going concern, delays or unsuccessful results in preclinical and clinical trials, flaws or defects regarding its product candidates, changes in relevant legislation or regulatory requirements, uncertainty of protection of PharmaCyte Biotech's intellectual property and PharmaCyte Biotech's continued ability to raise capital. PharmaCyte Biotech does not assume any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.
More information about PharmaCyte Biotech can be found at www.PharmaCyte.com. It can also be obtained by contacting Investor Relations.
CONTACT: Investor Relations:
PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc.
Investor Relations Department
Telephone: 917.595.2856
Email: Info@PharmaCyte.com
Source: PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc.