Feb 6 2007
NanoMed Pharmaceuticals has announced that it has achieved its preclinical development milestone for the company's lead oncology product which is intended to overcome multidrug resistance in remission induction therapy in elderly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. As a result, the company has completed the second closing of its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock investment by the SWMF Life Science Venture Fund.
"We are extremely pleased to have achieved this development milestone," said Stephen Benoit, president and CEO, "as doing so constitutes tangible progress toward realizing our goal of developing nanoparticle-based drugs that can lead to improved outcomes for patients undergoing chemotherapy for AML and other types of cancer." Benoit added, "It's also an important accomplishment because it further demonstrates our commitment to enhancing shareholder value."
"NanoMed is the first investment made by the Fund," said Ron Kitchens, Southwest Michigan First Chief Executive Officer and General Partner of the SWMF Life Science Venture Fund, a $50 million private equity fund investing exclusively in promising life science companies having a presence in the Kalamazoo Region. "We couldn't be more pleased with the progress the company has made and look forward to continuing to work with Steve and his team as they build a successful specialty pharmaceutical company in Kalamazoo," Kitchens added.
NanoMed is utilizing Nanotemplate Engineering(TM) to develop anti-cancer drugs that are more effective at delivering drugs to cancer cells that have developed resistance to the drug when administered alone. Nanotemplate Engineering is a nanoparticle manufacturing technology used to formulate small molecules, peptides, proteins, plasmid DNA, and diagnostic agents. The company's lead product, which involves the formulation of a proven anti- leukemic agent for the treatment of acute leukemias, currently is in preclinical development and the company expects to begin safety and efficacy tests in AML patients in 2008, working with Dianna S. Howard, M.D., Associate Professor, Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at the University of Kentucky Lucille P. Markey Cancer Center.
Benoit indicated that NanoMed intends to expand its product pipeline in 2007 to include the development of second drug targeted to overcome multidrug resistance in cancer. In addition, the company is exploring potential partnerships with pharmaceutical companies developing new drugs to overcome resistance in other types of cancer.
http://www.nanomedpharm.com/