Angiotech announces positive Phase 1 Psoriasis results

VANCOUVER, March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ANPI - News; TSX:ANP - News) today announced positive results in its Pilot Phase 1 Psoriasis Study. ADVERTISEMENT The National Cancer Institute completed a study evaluating the systemic use of PAXCEED(TM) (a Cremophor® EL-free paclitaxel formulation) in a challenging group of patients with severe psoriasis. Eligible patients had a PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) Score of 20 or greater (severe disease), and had been treated with at least two other systemic agents. No concomitant therapies were allowed during the trial. Patients were treated with either 75 mg/m2 of PAXCEED(TM) every four weeks for six treatments or a second protocol of 37.5 mg/m2 every two weeks for three treatments followed by six doses of 50 mg/m2 every two weeks. Nine patients completed the study. All patients had a positive response to PAXCEED(TM). In the optimal dose regime group utilizing 75 mg/m2 monthly, the average PASI score improvement was 64 percent. The study also demonstrated that once the patients came off therapy, there was no rapid rebound effect or exaggerated recurrence of disease, as typically displayed with traditional immunosuppressive agents or steroids. The safety and side effect profile was excellent and consistent with all other previous systemic PAXCEED(TM) programs. Angiotech is currently enrolling patients in a Phase 2 rheumatoid arthritis study using PAXCEED(TM) and results are expected to be available in 2004. Angiotech intends to seek a strategic partnership for its systemic PAXCEED(TM) program subject to the completion of the rheumatoid arthritis trial. Paclitaxel is a potent, multifunctional, small molecule anti- inflammatory, believed to be an ideal compliment to the new generation large molecule therapies. Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.angiotech.com) is dedicated to enhancing the performance of medical devices and biomaterials through the innovative use of pharmacotherapeutics.