Announcements

Positive Results from Tumour Studies

27th February, 2009

Beta Pharmaceutical Limited is pleased to report positive results in respect of the initial tumour studies involved in the Breast Cancer and Health Project which the company and its partner are conducting in collaboration with the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM).

Since December 2007, experiments have been underway in the laboratory of Dr. Paul W. Sylvester to determine if dietary supplementation with gamma tocotrienols is effective in suppressing mammary tumour development and growth in relevant animal tumour models.  The initial study involved the use of the MMTV (neu) transgenic mouse model where the mice used have been genetically engineered to spontaneously develop estrogen-receptor negative mammary tumours that characteristically contain high levels of HER-2 receptors.  The mammary tumours that form in these animals are similar to the type of breast cancer that is responsible for causing the majority of breast cancer deaths occurring in women.

Animals were started on their respective treatment diets at 7-8 weeks of age and the large-scale experiment continued for over 12 months.  The four treatment groups in this study were the control group and 3 other groups feeding on diets (American Institute of Nutrition classified “semi synthetic” complete and balanced standard) containing different dose levels of purified gamma tocotrienol.

At the end of the experiment, the data generated shows that dietary supplementation with purified gamma tocotrienols significantly inhibits the development and growth of mammary tumours in the MMTV (neu) transgenic mouse.  Specific effects include:

Relevant histological and molecular biological studies and analysis will be concluded by Dr. Sylvester’s laboratory in the next months and, afterwards, a manuscript will be prepared for publication of the results and findings in an industry-wide recognized peer review journal.  At this point, the experimental data indicates that dietary supplementation with gamma tocotrienols significantly reduces mammary tumour development and growth in the transgenic mice model and provides strong evidence justifying moving this research into clinical trials.

In addition, the studies demonstrate that dietary supplementation with purified gamma tocotrienols is far superior for suppressing mammary tumour development when compared to products on the market today which are manufactured using mixed vitamin E formulations.

Apart from the tumour studies work occurring in Dr. Sylvester’s laboratory, additional work in the Breast Cancer and Health Project is underway in separate laboratories to improve tocotrienol delivery, bioavailability and therapeutic effectiveness.

Beta Pharmaceutical Limited focuses on research and development of effective treatments for breast cancers.

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