First Berlin Releases Research Update Following Callisto Pharmaceutical's Announcement of Initiation of Phase II Trial in Advanc
14 Noviembre 2006 - 9:52AM
PR Newswire (US)
Independent German Based Equity Research Firm Maintains Buy Rating
NEW YORK, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Callisto
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. KAL (FWB:CA4), a developer of new drug
treatments in the fight against cancer and other major health
threats, announced that a leading independent research firm, First
Berlin Equity Research, has issued an updated research report with
a "Buy" rating, and a speculative risk rating. First Berlin issued
the research update following Callisto's announcement of the first
dosing of patients in a multi-center, open-label Phase II clinical
trial of Atiprimod to treat low to intermediate grade
neuroendocrine carcinomas, including advanced carcinoid cancers.
Treatment of advanced carcinoid tumors is currently an un-met
medical need. Carcinoid tumors primarily metastasize to the liver,
lungs bone and lymph nodes. Standard chemotherapy has generally
proven ineffective, typically relieving symptoms in less than 30%
of cases. First Berlin is a leading European research firm. Its
coverage of Callisto is fully independent. About First Berlin
Established in 1998, First Berlin is an independent equity research
company. First Berlin combines decades of experience in the markets
of London, New York and Frankfurt, enabling it to offer its clients
a standard of service that until now has only been available to
larger firms. For more information, visit
http://www.firstberlin.com/. About Atiprimod Atiprimod is an orally
bio-available small molecule drug that displays multiple mechanisms
of action. The drug has been shown to be antiangiogenic, inhibit
secretion of VEGF and IL-6, elicit an apoptotic response
(programmed cellular death), and inhibit phosphorylation of key
kinases involved in tumor progression and survival including Akt
and STAT3. The drug is presently in three clinical trials: a Phase
II trial in advanced carcinoid cancer patients, a Phase I/IIa human
clinical trial in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients,
and in a Phase I/IIa trial in advanced cancer patients. Callisto
earlier announced in June, 2006 interim data from the Phase I trial
of Atiprimod in advanced cancer patients. The patients who were
entered into this trial had growing tumors and symptoms that were
no longer controlled by the standard therapies utilized. During
treatment, three of the five advanced carcinoid patients had
measurable tumor regressions and loss of many of the debilitating
symptoms of this disease. About Carcinoid Cancer Carcinoid tumors,
or carcinoids, originate in hormone-producing cells of the
gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the respiratory tract, the
hepatobiliary (liver) system and the reproductive glands. The most
common site of origin is the GI tract, with tumors often developing
in the rectum, and other sections of the small intestine.
Approximately 7,000 cases of carcinoid cancer are diagnosed in the
U.S. annually, with the number increasing over the past 20-30
years. Carcinoid tumors that metastasize to the liver have a poor
prognosis. Traditionally, chemotherapy relieves symptoms in less
than 30% of cases of metastatic carcinoid tumors, usually for less
than 1 year. Carcinoid tumors can result in a condition called
"carcinoid syndrome" which is caused by the release of hormones by
the tumors into the blood stream. The symptoms vary depending on
which hormones are released by the tumors, but typically include
diarrhea, facial flushing, wheezing, abdominal pain and valvular
heart disease. About Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Callisto is a
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new drugs
to treat various forms of cancer and other serious afflictions.
Callisto's drug candidates in development currently include
anti-cancer agents in clinical development, in addition to drugs in
pre-clinical development for other significant health care markets,
including ulcerative colitis. One of the Company's lead drug
candidates, Atiprimod, is in development to treat advanced
carcinoid cancer, a neuroendocrine tumor, and relapsed multiple
myeloma, a blood cancer. Atiprimod is presently in a Phase II
clinical trial in advanced carcinoid cancer patients, and in Phase
I/IIa human clinical trials in relapsed multiple myeloma patients,
and advanced cancer patients, respectively. Another anti-cancer
drug, L-Annamycin, is being developed as a treatment for forms of
relapsed acute leukemia, a currently incurable blood cancer.
Callisto initiated a clinical trial of L-Annamycin in adult
relapsed acute lymphocytic leukemia patients in 4Q 2005.
L-Annamycin, a new compound from the anthracycline family of proven
anti-cancer drugs, has a novel therapeutic profile, including
activity against resistant diseases and significantly reduced
cardiotoxicity, or damage to the heart, compared to currently
available drug alternatives. Callisto also has drugs in preclinical
development for gastro-intestinal inflammation, and cancer.
Callisto has exclusive worldwide licenses from AnorMED Inc. and
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to develop, manufacture, use and sell
Atiprimod and L-Annamycin, respectively. Callisto is also listed on
the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CA4.
Information is available at http://www.callistopharma.com/.
Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this press
release are forward-looking. Such statements are indicated by words
such as "expect," "should," "anticipate" and similar words
indicating uncertainty in facts and figures. Although Callisto
believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements will
prove to be correct. As discussed in the Callisto Pharmaceuticals
Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005,
and other periodic reports, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, actual results could differ materially from
those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of
the following factors, among others: uncertainties associated with
product development, the risk that products that appeared promising
in early clinical trials do not demonstrate efficacy in
larger-scale clinical trials, the risk that Callisto will not
obtain approval to market its products, the risks associated with
dependence upon key personnel and the need for additional
financing. DATASOURCE: Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CONTACT: Dan
D'Agostino of Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-212-297-0010, ext.
227, Web site: http://www.callistopharma.com/
Copyright