PKC COMPLETES MINIATURIZATION OF MAGNETIC BREATHER PUMP

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, April 12, 2010 – Pharmaco-Kinesis Corporation (PKC), an advanced medical device company developing smart local drug delivery systems, today reported completion of the initial miniaturization of the company’s Magnetic Breather Pump (MBP) in preparation for animal studies.

The MBP is an implantable and remotely programmable pump that can deliver multiple medications directly to a tumor site or organ, with real time measurement of bioresponse in the form of VEGF levels, temperature and pressure. PKC has now miniaturized the MBP to an implantable system that will be tested in-vivo in large animal trials that are expected to commence in Summer 2010. These trials will test the functionality, reliability and accuracy of the MPB prior to commencing Phase I/II studies in humans, which are expected to commence in 2011.

“The MBP is a programmable polypharmacy infusion apparatus which enables the clinician to personalize the treatment regimen based on patient-specific parameters,” said Josh Shachar, Chief Technology Officer of PKC. “This device applies medicating agents intratumerically and enables delivery based on pharmacokinetic criteria such as bioavailability, bioelimination and toxicity, relative to maximum tolerated dose (MTD), as well as optimal biological dose (OBD). Physiological parameters are monitored by a “smart loop” and governed by sensory outputs that convey numerical equivalence. A spectrophotometer correlates the tumor regression. The entire process of medicating agents transferred from the MBP to the tumor sink is supervised by an algorithmic diffusion model that takes into account the internal physiological effects of the medicating agents and their effect on the production cascade of multiple cytokines. The result of such efforts will ultimately lead to improved indices of treatment and reduced morbidity and side effects.”

The first application of the MPB is expected for treatment of Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis (LC), a devastating complication of cancer that attacks the brain and travels in the spinal fluid. “Despite significant improvements in chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery for many types of cancer, the prognosis is dismal for patients with LC. Untreated patients survive for approximately 6-8 weeks, and even with aggressive treatment using current methods, the average survival for LC patients with solid tumors is approximately 4-8 months.” said Thomas C. Chen, M.D., Chief Oncology Officer of PKC. “Multiple studies have shown that continuous flow of medication, administration of alternate drug regimens or drug combinations, and adaptation of dosage to individualized patient needs can improve survival rates, but as yet no device has been developed with these capabilities. The MBP can improve the survival rates and the quality of life of LC patients.”

“We believe the MPB represents an outstanding commercial opportunity for the medical device industry and for pharmaceutical companies,” said Frank Adell, CEO of PKC. “The MBP can serve as a catalyst for pharmaceutical companies to reformulate generic medications and gain new market potential while improving the safety and efficacy of their products. The miniaturization of the MBP is thus an important event in creating value for our shareholders. We believe that the achievement of this milestone will create significant momentum in building the growth trajectory of PKC.”

The PKC R&D team is engaged in several product development programs for commercialization of novel smart local drug delivery technologies and advanced devices to measure biological responses.

For additional information, please contact:
Daniel Saks Senior
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Pharmaco-Kinesis Corporation
(310) 734-4447