GOLDEN, CO / ACCESSWIRE / May 3, 2016 / Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. (OTCPK: VODG), dba Vitro Biopharma, announced the launch of breast cancer CAFs (cancer-associated fibroblasts) that provide additional tools for drug discovery in the quest to eradicate cancer. CAFs reside within tumor tissue and serve various functions including suppression of immune responses to cancerous cells, support of tumor cell growth and enhancement of metastasis. Modern immunotherapy has evolved into CAR-T technology (chimeric antigen receptor T cells) whereby patient's immune cells are genetically engineered to migrate to, attach to and eliminate cancer cells. Several biotech firms are developing CAR-T cancer immunotherapeutic products including Juno Therapeutics, Kite Pharma and Ziopharm Oncology. Some early trials for treatment of leukemia show nearly complete remission using this therapy. However, CAFs present within solid tumors continue to block engineered T cells and require intervention to maximize immunotherapy to completely eradicate cancerous cells (PNAS 110: 20212, 2013).
Our CAF product line now includes several tumor-specific CAFs including lung, colorectal, pancreatic and we also provide our specialized cell culture medium, Vitro Plus III™, for the expansion and use of these cell lines in cell-based assays for cancer drug discovery. With the addition of breast CAFs we now provide a broader array of CAF offerings to advance the race for a cure for cancer. Immunotherapy is at the forefront of the fright to eliminate cancer through a targeted approach designed to selectively eradicate cancer tumor cells from the body: http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/research/car-t-cells.
Dr. Jim Musick, President & CEO of Vitro Biopharma said, "We are very pleased to announce the latest addition to our cancer research tools. Use of the immune system to selectively target and eliminate cancerous cells from the body was pioneered by Dr. Steven Rosenberg at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The recent expansion to CAR-T technology adds enhanced specificity and potency to the process. Immunotherapy has the potential to provide significant advances to our abilities to treat cancer and may be a crucial tool in the eradication of cancer. Vitro Biopharma has a history of involvement in cancer research through a previous contract with NCI in the 1990's to supply a recombinant human tumor marker, CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen). More recently, our pancreatic primary fibroblast cell line and CAFs have been used extensively in cancer research. We now sell our cancer drug discovery tools to large biopharmaceutical companies and several other research labs throughout the world. We also plan to further expand our CAF product line in the future."
About Vitro Biopharma
Vitro Biopharma's (http://www.vitrobiopharma.com/) mission is "Harnessing the Power of Cells™" for the advancement of regenerative medicine to its full potential. Vitro Biopharma operates within a modern, GMP-compliant biotechnology manufacturing and R&D facility in Golden, Colorado. Vitro Biopharma manufactures and sells "Tools for Stem Cell and Drug Development™", including human mesenchymal stem cells and derivatives, the MSC-Gro™ Brand of optimized media for MSC self-renewal and lineage-specific differentiation. Our cell lines also include cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) derived from lung, colorectal, ovarian, uterine and pancreatic tumors. In addition, we provide MSC-derived progenitor cells, including neural stem cells (NSCs), nephron progenitor cells (NPCs) as well as a growing line of terminally differentiated cells: cholinergic, dopaminergic and sensory neurons, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, cardiomyocytes, and renal tubular epithelial cells. A primary application of these terminally differentiated cells is cell-based assays for drug discovery and pre-clinical toxicology of drugs, drug candidates and drug combinations that may produce toxic effects on cardiac, neural or renal cells, either directly or through metabolites derived from the interaction of drugs with specific cells such as liver cells. Vitro Biopharma now provides its Clinical Grade MSC-Gro™ Media for expansion of stem cells prior to transplantation for clinical studies of osteoarthritis treatment and products for use in preliminary studies of stem cell activation therapy for ASD & autoimmunity.
Vitro Biopharma received the Frost and Sullivan Technology Innovation Leadership Award for the industry sector: Stem Cell Tools and Technology in North America, 2014.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements herein regarding financial performance have not yet been reported to the SEC nor reviewed by the Company's auditors. Certain statements contained herein and subsequent statements made by and on behalf of the Company, whether oral or written may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements are identified by words such as "intends," "anticipates," "believes," "expects" and "hopes" and include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's plan of business operations, product research and development activities, potential contractual arrangements, receipt of working capital, anticipated revenues and related expenditures. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, acceptability of the Company's products in the market place, general economic conditions, receipt of additional working capital, the overall state of the biotechnology industry and other factors set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulations, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly these forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT:
Dr. James Musick
Chief Executive Officer
Vitro Biopharma
(303) 999-2130 Ext. 3
E-mail: [email protected]
SOURCE: Vitro Diagnostics, Inc.