HOUSTON, March 2, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- CytoGenix, Inc. (OTCBB:CYGX) announced the successful completion of the first phase of pre-clinical animal studies. These proof-of-concept studies show that the company's lead DNA anti-bacterial compound was highly effective in controlling bacterial growth and subsequent sepsis in animals.
There are approximately 700,000 cases and 215,000 deaths annually in the US from severe sepsis. Traditional antibiotic therapy has become ineffective because the sepsis-causing pathogens have mutated and developed defenses against all but the most powerful and expensive treatments. Care of people with sepsis costs about $50,000 per case resulting in an economic burden of nearly $17 billion a year.
Dr. Jeffrey K. Actor, associate professor, department of pathology and laboratory medicine, the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston Medical School, who conducted the studies stated, "These two studies consisted of a total of 35 septic mice, all of the DNA-treated animals survived, while the untreated group died. These results are very exciting and encourage us to move forward. Within the next several months, we will conduct several other mice experiments that more closely reflect human clinical conditions."
Dr. Malcolm Skolnick, CytoGenix Chairman and CEO, states, "We have chosen sepsis as the first application of our anti-bacterial agent because it is a life-threatening condition and a significant economic burden to society. We are very encouraged by the results of these trials and we have accelerated our drug development program. Our approach in fighting bacterial sepsis infection is quite novel and very different than the mechanism of action of traditional antibiotics that seek to destroy these organisms.
"By silencing bacterial genes to stop the bacteria's ability to reproduce, our DNA technology effectively reduces their number to levels that are manageable by the immune system. In this way, our compound strikes at the heart of bacterial-induced sepsis without creating a new generation of antibiotic-resistant mutants." adds Dr. Skolnick.
CytoGenix, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and markets innovative products and services based on its proprietary DNA expression technology. CytoGenix has products in pre-clinical development including, anti-herpes, anti-psoriasis and anti-inflammatory topical creams. The company owns a US patent for its core DNA expression technology and has 40 international or US pending patent applications.
SAFE HARBOR: Except for statements of historical fact, the statements in this press release are forward-looking. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, risks associated with the acceptance of new products, competition, and other factors more fully detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additional information about CytoGenix and its technology is found on the website at www.cytogenix.com.