CryoLife, Inc., Pharmaceuticals Subsidiary Awarded Research Grant To Advance Cancer Treatment Drug Delivery System
The research grant awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is designed to advance AuraZyme A- Z-CINN(TM) Linker technology. The A-Z-CINN Linker technology represents an opportunity to create a revolutionary drug delivery system that, if successful, could alter significantly the course of anti-cancer drug treatment. The A-Z-CINN is an energy reversible linker that binds a targeting agent, such as monoclonal antibody, with a therapeutic, such as a chemotherapy drug to create A-Z-CINN Targeted Therapy. This technology has the potential to deliver and release a targeted payload of chemotherapy drug many times higher than a normal systemic dose to achieve localized and immediate destruction of tumor cells.
Animal studies on mice completed in the fall of 2001 demonstrated a significant reduction in tumor mass with a single treatment using an A-Z-CINN immunoconjugate of commercially available cancer drugs.
The research grant is designed to advance study in methods of site- specific drug release utilizing visible light, ultrasound and microwaves on human breast tumor cells in vitro and in vivo.
This research study is expected to be completed by June 2003.
Founded in 1984, CryoLife, Inc. is the leader in the development and commercialization of implantable living human tissues for use in cardiovascular, vascular and orthopedic surgeries throughout the United States and Canada. The Company's BioGlue(R) surgical adhesive is FDA approved as an adjunct to sutures and staples for use in adult patients in open surgical repair of large vessels and is CE marked in the European Community and approved in Canada and Australia for use in vascular and pulmonary sealing and repair and for use in general surgery procedures. The Company also manufactures the SynerGraft(R) heart valve, the SynerGraft vascular graft, the world's first tissue-engineered heart valve and vascular replacements, and the CryoLife-O'Brien(R) and CryoLife-Ross(R) stentless porcine heart valves, which are CE marked for distribution within the European Community. The human heart valves and vascular grafts processed by CryoLife using the SynerGraft technology are distributed in the U.S. under the trademarks of CryoValve(R)SG and CryoVein(R)SG, respectively.
In Vitro - In an artificial environmentForward-Looking Statements: Statements made in this press release that look forward in time or that express management's beliefs, expectations or hopes regarding its A-Z-CINN Linker technology are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These future events may differ materially from management's expectations, may not occur when expected, if at all, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include the possibility that the A-Z-CINN Linker technology will not have the expected functionality, that future research results will prove less encouraging than prior results, that the research study will not be completed on schedule, that the Company will be unable to fund development of the technology, and that such technology will ultimately prove ineffective in oncology applications, as well as uncertainties regarding products in development, patents and protection of proprietary technology, and other risk factors detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Company's Form 10-K filing for the year ended December 31, 2001.
For additional information about the company, visit CryoLife's web site: http://www.cryolife.com .
Contact: Kirby Black
Senior Vice President, Research & Development
(800) 438-8285