Combinatorial Ablative Strategies Yield Improved Destruction of Pancreatic Cancer Cells

    OWEGO, NY, July 05, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- GI Cryo, a preclinical medical device development spin-off company from CPSI Biotech, announces the publication of a peer-reviewed article detailing the potential benefit of the combination of chemotherapy and cryoablation (freezing) strategies for the targeting of pancreatic cancer. The study, titled "An In Vitro Investigation into Cryoablation and Adjunctive Cryoablation/Chemotherapy Combination Therapy for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer Using the PANC-1 Cell Line", published as an open access article in the journal Biomedicines, was a multi-institutional collaboration.

The article details the impact of treating pancreatic cancer cells using a drug/device combination treatment strategy, chemotherapy and cryoablation, used clinically to treat pancreatic as well as other cancers. One arm of the study investigated the impact of the combined application of these treatments on pancreatic cancer in an in vitro cell model. The data show that the combination of exposing cancer cells to gemcitabine or oxaliplatin followed by freezing results in increased cell death compared with either applied as a single exposure (mono) therapy.

Commenting on the study, Dr. Isaac Raijman, AGAF, FASGE, FACP, a luminary internationally recognized endoscopist who has pioneered several novel endoscopic treatments, stated "The data from this in vitro study are very encouraging. As cryoablation technologies, such as FrostBite, become available to gastroenterologists it is encouraging to know that cryoablation can potentially be applied to patients undergoing other standard of care treatments such as chemotherapy and that the combination may have a synergistic effect. The combination treatment approach may also provide a treatment path for more advanced stage metastatic disease."

Dr. John M. Baust (Founder, GI Cryo and President, CPSI Biotech) stated "This study suggests that cryotherapy can be used in combination with various chemotherapeutic agents to provide an effective means of destroying pancreatic cancer cells. These initial findings from this in vitro study suggest further investigation into the use of a combination therapy regime for treating pancreatic cancer is warranted."

This study was conducted as part of GI Cryo's ongoing research and technology development program focused on the development of a next generation cryoablation device (FrostBite™) and approach for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. GI Cryo has been actively working with CPSI Biotech and EndoRx on the development of the FrostBite™ cryocatheter. FrostBite™ is designed to be used in conjunction with the next generation GastroCS cryoengine to freeze (cryoablate) cancer in situ (in place within the body), thereby destroying a tumor. The initial development efforts behind FrostBite™ were supported, in part, by NIH SBIR grants awarded to CPSI by the National Cancer Institute.

Ongoing efforts at GI Cryo continue to build upon this success and focus on design for manufacturing freeze, manufacturing and verification and validation testing of FrostBite™ and GastroCS in support of regulatory approval submission to the FDA for the treatment of pancreatic cancer as well as other gastroenterological (GI) based cancers. GI Cryo recently announced the completion of a pre-clinical study focused on evaluating FrostBite™ performance in vivo. That study demonstrated the ability of FrostBite™ deliver effective targeted ablation of tissues using a minimally invasive endoscopic ultrasound based approach.

With successful development, GI Cryo has embarked down the commercialization path. Christen Springs (CEO, EndoRx Medical) commented, "We are actively engaged with GI Cryo, seeking investors and partners to join our team to bring this potentially lifesaving technology platform to the market. Reports continue to show that cryoablation is an effective means of treating various cancers." Once commercialized, FrostBite will enable gastroenterologists to combine the power of cryoablation with that of endoscopic ultrasound based approaches to treat pancreatic cancer."

The open access article, initially published online in February 2022, is timely in view of the recent increased interest in use of cryoablation for the treatment of cancer. The article can be accessed free of charge via the Biomedicines website at Biomedicines | Free Full-Text | An In Vitro Investigation into Cryoablation and Adjunctive Cryoablation/Chemotherapy Combination Therapy for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer Using the PANC-1 Cell Line (mdpi.com)

More information on the FrostBite™ cryoablation platform can be found at www.GICryo.com, www.endorxmedical.com or www.CPSIBiotech.com.

About GI Cryo - GI Cryo is a private, start-up medical device company focused on the commercialization of the novel Pressurized Subcooled Nitrogen (PSN) GastroCS system, FrostBite EUS-compatible cryocatheter and other devices for the treatment of gastroenterological based cancers and other GI diseases. GI Cryo has partnered with CPSI Biotech to gain access to this advanced, patent protected cryoablation platform in the GI space. This platform includes technologies which may ultimately be used to target cancerous and non-cancerous tissues within the pancreas, liver, stomach and esophagus.

About CPSI Biotech - CPSI Biotech, a private, integrative bio/medtech greenhouse company, develops and designs life science research products and cryo-medical devices for applications in cancer, cardiovascular disease treatments and cell therapy bioprocessing. Ongoing R&D and business development activities continue to produce innovative technologies, devices and intellectual property for commercialization, licensing or sales in support of diverse clinical and research applications. By leveraging the innovation, flexibility and R&D strengths of CPSI Biotech in combination with the development, commercialization, manufacturing and clinical expertise of partnering organizations, rapid and efficient product development is attainable.

About EndoRx – EndoRx is an early-stage medical device development and management consulting company with a focus in advanced endoscopy. EndoRx's first device project, a novel biliary stone retrieval device, was successfully commercialized and acquired by ConMed. EndoRx maintains an organic pipeline of disruptive endoscopic technologies and assists other startups in transitioning their device projects from the research and development phase to successful commercialization.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by Dr. Raijman are his alone and are not nor in no way reflect that of the University of Texas Health Science Center of Houston or Baylor College of Medicine.

Disclosure Notice: The information contained in this release is as of June 29, 2022. The parties assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments. GI Cryo and CPSI's technologies do not have regulatory clearance for commercial sale and are currently intended for "Research Use Only".

With the exception of the historical information contained in this release, this release contains materials and statements related to future business, financial performance, future events and/or developments which constitute forward-looking statements. The matters described herein contain forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties that may individually or mutually impact the matters herein described, including but not limited to, any parties ability to develop and market new products, to retain and attract key employees, to obtain regulatory clearances and approvals for its products, to effectively react to other risks and uncertainties, such as fluctuation of quarterly financial results, contract and grants acquisition, reliance on third party manufacturers and suppliers, litigation or other proceedings, economic, competitive, governmental impacts, whether pending patents will be granted or defendable, validity of intellectual property and patents, the ability to license patents, the ability to commercialize developmental products, competition from existing and new products and procedures and any parties ability to raise the capital that is required to accomplish the foregoing.

Contacts:
EndoRx Contact:
Christen Springs
[email protected]

GI Cryo Contact:
Kristi Snyder, Ph.D.
[email protected]

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