Acquisition of US cancer care business

Australian Cancer Technology (AustCancer) has announced its intention to acquire the exclusive 20 year worldwide licence to manufacture and distribute a range of nutraceutical medicine products focused on cancer.

NutraForte is based in Rochester, New York State, focused on designing and producing a range of nutraceutical medicines. The products have been developed by two leading US specialists in oncology and complementary and integrative medicine to support the care and well being of cancer patients.

This acquisition complements AustCancer's current activities and transforms it to a broadly based oncology company with three facets:

• A range of patient care products comple-menting traditional cancer treatments and im-proving patient quality of life.

• The Pentrix vaccine, now advancing to a multi-centre Phase 2 trial in prostate cancer patients, which will commence in Melbourne in October 2003.

• The cancer drug discovery programs in partnership with leading UK company BioFocus

AustCancer executive chairman Dr Roger Aston said: 'We are acquiring a business with excellent growth prospects and the potential to very quickly generate profits which will help drive the commercialisation of our cancer drugs. The prestigious academic and medical alliances with US physicians expert in oncology, endocrinology, neuro-immunology and integrative medicine are huge pluses.'

The products are to be launched on the US market in February 2004 and the market for nutritional supplements in the US is estimated at US$18bn and growing at around 20% per annum.

Oncologists report that after diagnosis and initial treatment most patients are anxious about diet and general health and most take supplements that are not prescribed by their medical practitioner. NutraForte's products will target this market, aiming to become a high end product that is the choice of medical practitioners.

The range of oncology focused nutritional supplements includes multinutrient supplements that provide support to optimise health during radiation or other therapies. Other products focus on the preventative benefits of certain nutrients, which enhance immune function, particularly cell mediated immunity and natural killer cell activity. These products are formulated for general and specific application including women's health, breast care and prostate care.

Among the new products being developed by Dr's Boyd and Felten are supplements to assist reduction of the symptoms of the side effects observed during conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Typi-cally such side effects include damage to the lining of the gut and suppression of the immune system.

SunTen Laboratories, one of the United States largest and most reputable contract pharmaceutical manufacturers of quality complementary medicines, will manufacture the NutraForte products to comply with the highest level of purity, safety and FDA standards. The products will be positioned for direct sale to consumers through the private practices of licensed medical and health care professionals, particularly oncologists and cancer centres.