BC biotech firms expands research capacity

Vancouver, BC – September 24, 2004 – Protox Therapeutics says it has expanded its research capacity by establishing its own state-of-the-art laboratory in the new Discovery Parks building adjacent to the campus of University of Victoria. This additional research capacity will allow Protox to advance the development of the company’s engineered protein technology to create novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer.

Its first product in development, for the treatment of localized prostate cancer, PSA-PA1 is currently in preclinical studies.

“Until now, Protox has successfully relied on research and development that the company funds at both the University of Victoria (UVIC) and the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) School of Medicine in Baltimore,” says Dr Tom Buckley, the company’s chief scientific officer. “With this expansion into our own facility, we are effectively doubling our research capacity and thus will have enhanced ability to develop our technology and explore new research in other cancers such as lung and breast cancers and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”