Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Nanostart-holding MagForce enters into preclinical research agreement to investigate NanoTherm® therapy in the gastrointestinal cancer field in the USA

Home > Press > Nanostart-holding MagForce enters into preclinical research agreement to investigate NanoTherm® therapy in the gastrointestinal cancer field in the USA

Abstract:
- Goal is to achieve preclinical proof-of-concept in pancreatic and liver cancer
- First important milestone to set up a clinical development program with Key Opinion Leaders of the Mayo Clinic and throughout the US
- A previous pilot study conducted at the Charité, Berlin, has shown feasibility for NanoTherm® therapy in patients with pancreatic cancer

Nanostart-holding MagForce enters into preclinical research agreement to investigate NanoTherm® therapy in the gastrointestinal cancer field in the USA

Berlin / Frankfurt Germany | Posted on June 22nd, 2012

Nanostart (OTCQX: NASRY)-holding MagForce AG (Frankfurt, XETRA: MF6), a leading medical device company in the field of nanomedicine with focus on oncology, announced today that the Company has entered into a pre-clinical research agreement with Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), a leading US medical center.

Under the terms of the agreement, Mayo Clinic will start a research program applying MagForce's NanoTherm therapy to investigate the preclinical efficacy of the therapy in pancreatic and liver cancer. The project will be directed by Dev Mukhopadhyay, Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, and the study will be funded by Mayo Clinic. The goal of the project is to achieve preclinical proof-of-concept in order to file the clinical development program supporting the FDA PMA (FDA premarket approval) of the NanoTherm therapy in these indications.

"Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive diseases in oncology, ranking fourth among the tumor related causes of death. It is mostly recognized in a late and advanced status and consequently called "the silent killer". Due to the poor overall survival rates and the severe side effects of chemotherapeutics, the current standard of care, this disease is an enormous challenge in oncology. With approximately 32,000 new cases annually in the US alone there is a very high medical need to develop new therapeutic options for the treatment of these desperate patients," said Prof Dr Hoda Tawfik, Vice President R&D/Medical Affairs at MagForce. "In a pilot study MagForce could show the feasibility of the use of its NanoTherm therapy in pancreatic cancer patients with first hints of activity. I am delighted that we are now teaming up with the highly prestigious cancer center Mayo Clinic to achieve preclinical proof-of-concept in pancreatic and liver cancer with our innovative technology. A positive outcome of this new project would be the first important milestone to set up a clinical development program in gastrointestinal cancer in cooperation with medical key opinion leaders throughout the United States," added Prof Dr Hoda Tawfik.

This research agreement is a significant step in engaging the US medical community in the development of the NanoTherm therapy," added Dr Andreas Jordan, Executive Board and Founder of MagForce.

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About Nanostart AG
Nanostart AG (OTCQX: NASRY) headquartered in the German financial capital of Frankfurt, is a leading nanotechnology investment company, with portfolio companies spanning the globe from Silicon Valley to Singapore. The company provides venture capital financing for nanotechnology companies in various growth phases with a focus on innovation-driven industries of the future such as cleantech, life sciences and IT/electronics. As main shareholder of Nanostart Asia Pacific Ptd Ltd, Nanostart invests as partner of the Singaporean government.

About MagForce:

MagForce AG is a leading medical technology company in the field of nanomedicine in oncology. The Company's proprietary, NanoTherm® therapy, enables the targeted treatment of solid tumors through the intratumoral generation of heat via activation of magnetic nanoparticles. NanoTherm®, NanoPlan®, and NanoActivator™ are components of the therapy and have received EU-wide regulatory approval as medical devices for the treatment of brain tumors. MagForce, NanoTherm, NanoPlan, and NanoActivator are trademarks of MagForce AG in select countries. For more information, please visit www.magforce.com.

About NanoTherm® therapy:

The NanoTherm® therapy is a new approach for the local treatment of solid tumors. The principle of the method is the direct introduction of magnetic nanoparticles into a tumor and their subsequent heating in an alternating magnetic field. The water soluble nanoparticles are extremely small (approximately 15 nanometers in diameter), and contain an iron oxide core with an aminosilane coating. The particles are activated by a magnetic field that changes its polarity 100,000 times per second and heat is produced. Depending on the duration of treatment and the achieved intratumoral temperatures, the tumor cells are either directly destroyed (thermal ablation) or sensitized for concomitant chemo or radiotherapy (hyperthermia). With this new procedure, it is possible to combat the tumor from the inside out, thereby sparing surrounding healthy tissue. The nanoparticles remain in place at the treatment area, allowing for repeat treatments and the integration of multimodal therapy concepts. NanoTherm® therapy has regulatory approval in 27 European countries.

Disclaimer:
This notice constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe to securities. There will be no public offering of securities of Nanostart AG in conjunction with the existing listing of its shares in the “Entry Standard” segment of the regulated unofficial market (Freiverkehr) on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. This notice does not constitute a securities prospectus. Neither this notice nor the information contained within is intended for direct or indirect distribution within Canada, Australia or Japan.

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Contacts:
Nanostart AG
Dr. Hans Joachim Duerr
Head of Corporate Communications
Goethestrasse 26-28
60313 Frankfurt, Germany
phone: +49 (0)69-21 93 96 111
fax: +49 (0)69-21 93 96 150

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