TEMPE, Ariz., Sept. 3, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OrthoLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:OLGC) announced today the publication of positive results from a pre-clinical study of Chrysalin(r) (rusalatide acetate or TP508) in a model of chronic myocardial ischemia. The study demonstrates that Chrysalin significantly increases vascular perfusion and myocardial function in porcine hearts with induced chronic myocardial ischemia.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A therapeutic agent that helps to restore blood flow and function to damaged cardiac tissue could represent an important clinical option in the treatment of chronic and acute heart disease.
Chrysalin-treated animals demonstrated statistically significant improvements compared to placebo in vascular perfusion (p less than 0.02), myocardial function (p less than 0.02) and nitric oxide (NO) mediated endothelial function in small arteries (p less than 0.05). The study was performed at Texas A&M University in the laboratory of Theresa W. Fossum, DVM, Ph.D.
The article also presents data showing that, at the molecular level in cultured human endothelial cells, Chrysalin upregulates endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression and stimulates eNOS activation, leading to increased production of NO. Diminished NO production by endothelial cells is associated with vascular disease and thrombotic events leading to organ failure.
The discovery that Chrysalin reverses endothelial dysfunction in hearts with chronic ischemia and stimulates NO production provides a compelling rationale to guide the development of Chrysalin treatment for vascular disorders.
The study results are published in the September 2008 edition of the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Volume 13, No. 3).
"We are pleased to announce these exciting pre-clinical data showing the effectiveness of Chrysalin in chronic myocardial ischemia," said Randolph C. Steer, MD, Ph.D., President of OrthoLogic. "These important findings complement our ongoing pre-clinical studies of Chrysalin in acute myocardial ischemia and infarction, for which we announced preliminary results on August 7, 2008. Chrysalin has now demonstrated significant biological and clinical effects in models of both chronic and acute myocardial ischemia. Based on these results, we believe that Chrysalin could represent an exciting breakthrough for future treatment of heart disease."
About OrthoLogic
OrthoLogic is a biotechnology company committed to developing a pipeline of novel therapeutic peptides aimed at helping patients with under-served medical conditions. The Company is focused on development and commercialization of two product platforms: AZX100 and Chrysalin(r) (rusalatide acetate or TP508).
AZX100 is a novel synthetic 24-amino acid peptide, one of a new class of compounds in the field of smooth muscle relaxation and fibrosis. Based on its demonstrated effects in pre-clinical models, AZX100 is currently being evaluated for commercially significant medical applications such as the treatment of pulmonary disease, the prevention of hypertrophic and keloid scarring and intimal hyperplasia. OrthoLogic has an exclusive worldwide license to AZX100.
Chrysalin, the Company's novel synthetic 23-amino acid peptide, has been proven in multiple pre-clinical and clinical models to stimulate cellular events leading to angiogenesis, revascularization, and repair of dermal and musculoskeletal tissues. It is currently being evaluated in disorders that involve vascular endothelial dysfunction, such as acute myocardial infarction and chronic myocardial ischemia. The Company owns exclusive worldwide rights to Chrysalin.
OrthoLogic's corporate headquarters are in Tempe, Arizona. For more information, please visit the Company's website: www.orthologic.com.
Statements in this press release or otherwise attributable to OrthoLogic regarding our business that are not historical facts are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, which include the timing and acceptability of FDA filings and the efficacy and marketability of potential products, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from predicted results. These risks include: delays in obtaining or inability to obtain FDA, institutional review board or other regulatory approvals of pre-clinical or clinical testing; unfavorable outcomes in our pre-clinical and clinical testing; the development by others of competing technologies and therapeutics that may have greater efficacy or lower cost; delays in obtaining or inability to obtain FDA or other necessary regulatory approval of our products; our inability to successfully and cost effectively develop or outsource manufacturing and marketing of any products we are able to bring to market; changes in FDA or other regulations that affect our ability to obtain regulatory approval of our products, increase our manufacturing costs or limit our ability to market our product; affects on our stock price and liquidity if we are unable to meet the requirements for continued listing on the NASDAQ Global Market; our possible need for additional capital in the future to fund the continued development of our product candidates; and other factors discussed in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, and other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Editors' Note: This press release is also available under the Investors section of the Company's website at www.orthologic.com.