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Baltimore, MD | Thursday, July 16, 2009

Champions Biotechnology Partners with Do-Coop Technologies to Advance Its Novel Oncology Compound Into Biomerk Tumorgraft™ Testing

Oct 25 2011 10:07 AM

Champions Biotechnology, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CSBR), a company engaged in the development of advanced preclinical platforms and tumor specific data to enhance the value of oncology drugs, has established a collaboration with Do-Coop Technologies Ltd. of Israel for development of a more soluble form of SG410, its Benzoylphenylurea (BPU) sulfur analog compound. SG410, an in-licensed compound, is the first agent in Champions’ drug development pipeline. Using Neowater®, a novel proprietary water-based nanotechnology, Do-Coop has been able to improve the solubility and activity of SG410.

SG410 is an antimiotic inhibitor that was shown in Biomerk Tumorgraft models to target microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT) deficient tumors with promising results as compared to a currently marketed and leading chemotherapeutic drug. These antimitotic inhibitors target MAPT (Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau) deficient tumors. In both in vitro and in vivo models, SG410 has demonstrated promising activity against prostate and pancreatic cancer.

“We are excited to work with this innovative technology that enables us to move SG410 into Biomerk Tumorgraft testing and determine its optimal clinical application,” said Doug Burkett, Ph.D., President of Champions Biotechnology, Inc. “We expect to have early Biomerk Tumorgraft results for SG410 by the end of 2009. Also, following nearly a year of efforts to build our oncology drug pipeline we expect to in-license additional drugs in the near future; SG410 is anticipated to be the first of many in-licensed compounds to enter Biomerk Tumorgraft evaluation. Our Biomerk Tumorgraft technology enables identification of the most promising development path for the compound in terms of indication, drug combination, and target patient populations. Studies suggest that evaluations of compounds through Biomerk Tumorgrafts will lead to more efficient and successful clinical development.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Do-Coop will receive development milestones and royalties based upon the clinical success of the compound. “We are delighted to work with Champions and its groundbreaking Biomerk Tumorgraft platform,” said Eran Gabbai, President and CTO of Do-Coop. “This technology should change the way in which cancer drugs are developed.”

About Champions Oncology, Inc.

Champions Oncology, Inc. (formerly Champions Biotechnology, Inc) is engaged in the development of advanced technology solutions and services to personalize the development and use of oncology drugs. The Company’s Tumorgraft™ Technology Platform is a novel approach to personalizing cancer care based upon the implantation of primary human tumors in immune deficient mice followed by propagation of the resulting engraftments, or Tumorgrafts™, in a manner that preserves the biological characteristics of the original human tumor. The Company uses this technology in conjunction with related services to offer solutions for two customer groups: Personalized Oncology Solutions (“POS”) in which physicians and patients looking for information help guide the development of personalized treatment plans, and Translational Oncology Solutions (“TOS”) in which pharmaceutical and biotech companies seeking personalized approaches to drug development can lower the cost and increase the speed of developing new drugs and increasing the adoption of existing drugs. The Company’s Tumorgraft™ Technology Platform consists of processes, physical tumors and information that we use to personalize the development and use of oncology drugs. The Company is building its Tumorgraft™ Technology Platform through the procurement, development and characterization of numerous Tumorgrafts™ within each of several cancer types. Tumorgrafts™ are procured through agreements with a number of institutions in the U.S. and overseas as well as through its POS business. The Tumorgrafts™ are developed and tested through agreement with a United States-based preclinical facility.

The Company provides POS to oncologists by establishing and administering expert tumor panels for their patients to analyze medical records and test results, to assist in understanding conventional and experimental options and to identify and arrange for testing, analysis and study of the patients’ cancer tissues, as appropriate. Additionally, the Company offers Personalized Tumorgraft™ development, drug studies and genome sequencing as part of its POS whereby physicians can evaluate the effects of cancer drugs on their patients’ tumorgrafts and understand the genetic make-up of their patient’s tumor enabling them to better select treatment regimens that may be efficacious to the patient

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995) that inherently involve risk and uncertainties. Champions Oncology generally uses words such as “believe,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. One should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements for many unforeseen factors. See Champions Oncology’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2011 for a discussion of such risks, uncertainties and other factors. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, they relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made, and Champions Oncology’s future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements may not meet these expectations. The Company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in Champions Oncology’s expectations, except as required by law.

References:

  1. Hidalgo M et al. Activity of gemcitabine in direct patient derived xenografts predicts clinical outcome: validation of an in vivo model for drug development. J Clin Oncol 27:15s, 2009 (suppl; abstr 4528)
  2. Hidalgo M et al. A Pilot Study of Treatment Guided by Personalized Tumorgrafts in Patients with Advanced Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther August 2011 10:1311-1316
  3. Rubio-Viqueira B, Jimeno A, Cusatis G, et al. An in vivo platform for translational drug development in pancreatic cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2006;12:4652-4661.
  4. Champions data on file.