Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Arrowhead subsidiary, Calando Pharmaceuticals plans first humans clinical trial with targeted, nano-delivered

Home > Press > Arrowhead subsidiary, Calando Pharmaceuticals plans first humans clinical trial with targeted, nano-delivered

Abstract:
Arrowhead Research Corporation (NASDAQ: ARWR) announced today that Calando, its majority owned subsidiary, together with City of Hope (COH) and the UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center (UCLA), are planning a broad-based Phase I clinical trial to begin later this year for Calando's lead drug candidate, CALAA-01.

Arrowhead subsidiary, Calando Pharmaceuticals plans first humans clinical trial with targeted, nano-delivered

PASADENA, CA | Posted on May 11th, 2007

"We expect that Calando will be first to human trials with a
targeted, formulated siRNA therapeutic designed for the treatment of
cancer," said R. Bruce Stewart, Arrowhead's Chairman. "We are honored
to be working with distinguished scientists at these two world class
institutions."

Calando is performing toxicity studies in rats and monkeys in
preparation for the filing of an Investigational New Drug (IND)
application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is
actively engaged in the scale-up of manufacturing to produce
cGMP-grade clinical materials for the Phase I trial. Upon FDA
approval, Calando, COH and UCLA plan to conduct an open-label,
dose-escalation Phase I clinical trial in patients with unresectable
or metastatic solid tumors. The study will be led by Yun Yen, MD,
Ph.D., at COH and Antoni Ribas, MD, at UCLA. Based upon the
evaluation of the results from this study, Calando plans to conduct
separate, disease-specific Phase II trials.

CALAA-01 uses Calando's nano-engineered delivery technology to
protect the siRNA from degradation and attack by the immune system as
it travels through the body to the cancer cells. The nanotech
formulation also contains human transferrin protein (Tf) which
promotes targeting to a broad spectrum of cancer cell types. Once the
therapeutic binds to the Tf receptor, it is taken up by the cell and
its siRNA payload is released. Calando's proprietary siRNA targets
the M2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, a well-established cancer
target,

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About Arrowhead Research Corporation
Arrowhead Research Corporation (www.arrowheadresearch.com) is a
publicly-traded nanotechnology company commercializing new
technologies in the areas of life sciences, electronics, and energy.
Arrowhead is building value for shareholders through the progress of
majority owned subsidiaries founded on nanotechnologies originally
developed at universities. The company works closely with
universities to source early stage deals and to generate rights to
intellectual property covering promising new nanotechnologies.
Currently, Arrowhead has four subsidiaries commercializing nanotech
products and applications, including anti-cancer drugs, RNAi
therapeutics, carbon-based electronics and compound semiconductor
materials.

About Calando Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Calando Pharmaceuticals Inc. (www.calandopharma.com) is using its
proprietary technologies in targeted polymeric delivery systems and
siRNA design to design and create new, targeted siRNA therapeutics.
Small interfering RNAs (siRNA) induce RNA interference, or RNAi, a
naturally occurring mechanism within cells to selectively silence and
regulate specific genes. The ability to silence genes through RNAi
could provide a new way to treat a wide range of human diseases. The
company is pursuing this goal through its internal research and
development and also through collaborations and partnerships with
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning ofthe "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Actof 1995. These statements are based upon our
current expectations and speak onlyas of the date hereof. Our actual
results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in
any forward-looking statements as a result of various factorsand
uncertainties, including the recent economic slowdown affecting
technology companies, the future success of our scientific studies,
our ability to successfully develop products, rapid technological
change in our markets, changes in demand for our future products,
legislative, regulatory and competitive developments and general
economic conditions. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A,
recent and forthcoming Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and 10-Q/A,
recent Current Reports on Forms 8-K and 8-K/A, our Registration
Statement on Form S-3, and other SEC filingsdiscuss some of the
important risk factors that may affect our business, results of
operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to
revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any
reason.