UROGENESYS LICENSES GENE LINKED TO PROSTATE CANCER Santa Monica, Calif., February 24, 1998 - UroGenesys, Inc. announced today it has obtained exclusive commercial rights to a gene linked to prostate cancer. The gene, called prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA), is reported in a new study published in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. According to lead author Dr. Robert Reiter of UCLA, the PSCA gene produces a protein that is found more prevalently on the cell surface of prostate cancer cells than normal prostate cells. The study further demonstrated that 102 out of 126 prostate cancer patients (81%) expressed high levels of PSCA. Prostate cancer is currently the most common type of cancer found in American men and the second leading cause of cancer related death in this population. Detection for prostate cancer is typically by digital rectal examination and measurement of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA). Although PSA is widely used, it is limited by a lack of specificity, as elevated PSA levels are found not only in prostate cancer but also in prostatitis and BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia - a common condition in older men). In contrast, PSCA is upregulated only in prostate cancer and not in benign conditions, thus having the potential to be developed into a diagnostic marker. PSCA could also have usefulness as a cell surface target site for antibody or other therapeutic intervention. According to Dr. William Isaacs of Johns Hopkins University, who is a Scientific Advisor to UroGenesys, "the discovery of PSCA has the potential to rival PSA in terms of its ability to provide insight to both normal prostate biology as well as that of prostate cancer". Donald B. Rice, President and CEO of UroGenesys, commented that UroGenesys is continuing research endeavors on PSCA and other novel genes that could be developed into diagnostic or therapeutic treatments for prostate cancer. UroGenesys, Inc. is a privately held early stage biotechnology company formed in 1996 by a group of leading researchers from UCLA and Dr. Rice. The company, headquartered in Santa Monica, CA, is focused on the discovery and development of innovative products for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. In 1997, UroGenesys raised $8 million in private funding. Contacts Donald Rice, Ph.D. President and CEO drice@urogenesys.com Aya Jakobovits, Ph.D. Vice President of Research; Chief Scientific Officer ajakobovits@urogenesys.com << Back to Press Releases