MBF Therapeutics And Lankenau Institute for Medical Research Partner To Develop Novel Drug Treatment For Companion Animal Cancers

Pilot Clinical Study Underway at University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine

Ambler, PA/PRNewswire/ -- MBF Therapeutics Inc. (MBFT) www.mbftherapeutics.com, a development stage veterinary oncology company here, and suburban Philadelphia-based Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) www.limr.org , announced today that they have formed a strategic relationship to support the development of MBFT-101, a treatment for common and aggressive cancers in dogs and cats.

The agreement covering the arrangement provides MBFT with exclusive access to preclinical data from research being conducted by Dr. Thomas O'Brien, professor at both LIMR and Thomas Jefferson University's Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology. Dr. O'Brien, a member of MBFT's Clinical Advisory Board, is widely recognized for his extensive study of the role of polyamine transport inhibitors and their ability to significantly enhance the activity of difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an early "designer" drug.

A pilot clinical study using MBFT-101 in cats with oral squamous cell carcinoma -- the most common feline oral cancer -- is currently in progress at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania's Veterinary Clinical Investigation Center (www.vet.upenn.edu ), with the help of a grant from Ben Franklin Partners Technology Concept Network to MBFT and Dr. O'Brien. Later this year, MBFT will initiate a pilot clinical study using dogs.

MBFT-101 is a novel combination of two drug molecules that act in concert to kill cancer cells by starving them of nutrients essential for cell growth and survival, with no effect on normal cells. The therapy is intended to be administered orally, at home, for four to six weeks.

"This partnership embodies the true value of translational medicine. Together we are able to evaluate MBFT-101 in cats and dogs with natural disease, concurrently with crucial preclinical studies in laboratory animal models," said Thomas Tillett, MBFT President and CEO. "At the same time we are developing these treatments for companion animals, we will advance our understanding of how to effectively treat human cancers," he added, noting that dogs, in particular, are the best animal models for emerging treatments of certain types of human cancers.

"Cancer is a devastating disease that affects both humans and animals alike," stated Dr. George Prendergast, LIMR President & CEO. "The Lankenau Institute is very excited about our new, unique relationship with MBF Therapeutics. MBFT will utilize research performed in our laboratories to advance the development of needed, new therapies for our beloved pets while also setting the stage for future studies in humans."

About MBF Therapeutics: Ambler, PA-based MBF Therapeutics is capitalizing on the lack of effective cancer therapies in the companion animal health arena to develop novel, proprietary veterinary oncology products. Our strategy focuses on the acquisition and clinical development of products that will not only be disruptive to existing markets, but will also create new markets for clinical therapy. Our portfolio includes targeted gene-based and small molecule products with well-understood mechanisms of action that specifically disrupt tumor cell metabolism and/or modulate immune function. For further information, please visit our Web site, www.mbftherapeutics.com or contact us at 215-620-3699.

About the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research Founded in 1927, the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research center located in suburban Philadelphia on the campus of the Lankenau Hospital. Part of Main Line Health, LIMR is one of the few freestanding, hospital-associated medical research centers in the nation. The faculty and staff at the Institute are dedicated to advancing an understanding of the causes of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. They use this information to help improve diagnosis and treatment of these diseases as well as find ways to prevent them. They are also committed to extending the boundaries of human health and well-being through technology transfer and the training of the next generation of scientists and physicians. For more information, please visit www.limr.org.

SOURCE: MBF Therapeutics Inc.