Kiadis Pharma presents ATIR and Rhitol data at ASH

And NIH presentation on ATIR at ASH

Oncology focused biotech company Kiadis Pharma announces today that there will be three presentations on its products ATIR and Rhitol in poster sessions at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) December 8-11 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.  Data will be presented from the company's ongoing clinical study on ATIR by its principal investigator Dr. Denis Claude Roy, who also presents data on the functionality of Rhitol. In addition, Dr. Stephan Mielke presents data from an ATIR study conducted at the NIH. 

ATIR: presentation of clinical phase I/II study on mismatched transplantations by Dr. Denis-Claude Roy
Title poster: “Phase I/II clinical trial of Haplotype Mismatched Myeloablative Stem Cell Transplantation:  Higher doses of Donor Lymphocyte Infusions depleted of Alloreactive Cells using ATIR may improve outcome without causing GvHD

• Abstract #2976; Poster 2976, Board #195-III (10 December, 5-7 pm)

Dr. Denis Claude Roy head of Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Hospital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montreal, Canada: “Our results indicate that the post-transplant infusion of a ATIR-PDT treated DLI is feasible, does not induce acute GVHD, and suggests a clinical benefit for patients receiving the highest DLI doses to accelerate T cell reconstitution. This PDT strategy represents an appealing alternative for older patients and those at high risk for GVHD”

Rhitol: presentation on functionality of Rhitol in chronic GvHD by Dr. Denis-Claude Roy
Title poster:  “ anti-Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease activity through a regulatory T Cell dependent mechanism after photodynamic therapy.

• Abstract #3280; Poster 3280; Board #499-III (10 December, 5-7 pm) 

Dr. Denis-Claude Roy head of Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Hospital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montreal, Canada: “our results demonstrate that TH9402 PDT not only eliminates activated T cells, but preserves Tregs, with the functional ability to inhibit residual alloreactive cGVHD cells. This inhibitory effect requires live effector Tregs, secretion of IL-10 and TGF-β expression. With such dual effector mechanisms, photopheresis using TH9402 should translate into improved treatment efficacy and enhanced quality of life for patients with chronic GVHD”

Presentation of the independent NIH study of Kiadis Pharma product ATIR Dr. Stephan Mielke
Title poster:  “Successful Translation of a GMP-Based, Clinical Scale Selective Allodepletion Approach for Matched Donor-Recipient Pairs from Bench-to-Bedside”.

• Abstract #3279; Poster 3279, board #499-III (10 December, 5-7 pm)

About ATIR
ATIR is being developed to enable the use of a mismatched donor for an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for end stage blood cancer patients.  ATIR selectively eliminates from a mismatched graft the immune cells that cause acute Graft versus Host Disease, a severe and potentially lethal complication with allogeneic bone marrow transplantations.  Next to the company sponsored clinical phase I/II study with Dr. Denis Claude Roy on mismatched transplantation two independent studies are ongoing, with the NIH on matched transplantations and with Dr. Velardi also on mismatched transplantations.

About Rhitol
Rhitol is under development as a treatment for steroid resistant or intolerant chronic GvHD in patients who have received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Rhitol is not registered yet, but clinical trials are currently being conducted to demonstrate its safety and efficacy. Rhitol uses a small molecule that selectively eliminates reactive autoimmune cells and is designed to result in immune modulation within the patient, restoring immune tolerance and attempting to achieve disease remission.  The current phase I/II clinical study on Rhitol has been closed for enrolment and will be completed early 2008.

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