Press Release Archives

Press Release: 25 February 2003
Press Release: 15 January 2003
Animal Use and Drug Development Panel
Pheromone Sciences Fertility Monitor Study Continues, with Assistance from AlcheraBio


Canadian Biotech Company Engages AlcheraBio for Dairy Cattle Fertility Control Project
Canadian biotechnology company Pheromone Sciences Corp. issued the following press release on Tuesday, February 25, 2003.

Pheromone Sciences Enters Advanced Dairy Testing
Toronto, Ontario (February 25, 2003) -- Pheromone Sciences Corp
(TSX-V:PHS), is pleased to announce the commencement of advanced testing of its proprietary sensing technology for large animal breeding at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, under the direction of Dr. Walter Johnson. This testing is designed to generate core data required to fully adapt the Company's PSC Fertility Monitor for use in detecting hormone and ovulation patterns in dairy cows. This work is scheduled to be completed at the end of Q3.

As part of this effort, the company is pleased to announce the engagement of Dr. Linda Rhodes VMD, PhD as consultant to help design and manage the best possible clinical program for the animal breeding technology. Within this ongoing program, the Company looks to generate efficacy and economic data for use by the target market. Dr. Rhodes’ experience combines over 23 years in dairy cattle veterinary practice, research in reproductive physiology, and human and animal drug discovery and development. Dr. Rhodes has experience with designing and executing clinical trials and leading product development teams in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry.

"We are very excited about this next stage of the development process for our PSC Fertility Monitor technology and continue tracking toward completion of this agricultural program next year." said Christopher Neuman, President and CEO of Pheromone Sciences.

This novel program is based on the same core technology employed within the FDA approved PSC Fertility Monitor for human use. Successful completion of the agricultural program next year would create a non-invasive, safe and easy to use fertility and ovulation detection device for use in cattle breeding operations. Currently, some US$400 million is lost each year in North America due to timing issues in breeding dairy herds.

Pheromone Sciences Corp. is a biotechnology and medical diagnostics device research and development company that focuses on commercializing technologies in the field of human reproduction and sexuality.
Pheromone Sciences Corp is a member of MEDEC, which is the national industry association representing over 120 medical device and diagnostic companies. Member companies are dedicated to serving the health care community through the provision of high quality medical products and services that benefit Canadians.

Statements contained in this press release, including those pertaining to scientific and clinical research, commercialization plans, strategic alliances, and intellectual property protection, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements subject to a number of uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from statements made. The TSX Ventures Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the contents of this news release. (Back To Top.)
www.pheromonesciences.com
© 2003 PHEROMONE SCIENCES CORP. (PHS)

Press Release: 15 January 2003
Dr. Rhodes Appointed to Adjunct Faculty at Rutgers University
Linda Rhodes, VMD, PhD, Founder and Senior Partner of AlcheraBio, has been appointed to the faculty of The Graduate Program in Animal Science, Cook College, Rutgers University as an adjunct professor. In February she will give her second seminar for animal science graduate students and will be teaching a seminar course entitled Animal Pharmaceuticals – from Discovery to Market, to be offered in the fall of 2003.

Dr. Rhodes received her VMD from the University of Pennsylvania and her PhD in reproductive physiology from Cornell University. After several years as a practicing large-animal veterinarian, Dr. Rhodes worked in new technology assessment as well as human and animal drug discovery and development at several major pharmaceutical firms, most recently Merck & Co., Inc. and Merial Ltd., a Merck/Aventis joint venture. In 2001, she founded AlcheraBio (www.alcherabio.com), a consulting firm focused on expanding applications for advances in biotechnology. (Back To Top.)

Animal Use and Drug Development Panel
Linda Rhodes moderated a panel discussion entitled “Animal Use and Drug Development: A Delicate Balance” on 5 February 2003 at the New Jersey Technology Council. The panel was sponsored by Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Morgan Lewis. Participants included Stanley Bell, Sr. Vice President, Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. and Dr. Chuck Hewitt, a professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. The panel addressed how a lead drug moves from the glass test tube to the living test tube, including considerations in choosing animal models and whether animal data can be used to predict efficacy results in human clinical trials. The discussion also considered the use of animals in drug development and highlighted changes in methodology and ideas about how to avoid common pitfalls in animal model use. (Back To Top.)

Pheromone Sciences Fertility Monitor Study Continues, with Assistance from AlcheraBio
In February 2003 Pheromone Sciences Corporation (www.pheromonesciences.com) announced the start of advanced testing of its proprietary sensing technology for large animal breeding at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. This testing was designed to generate core data required to adapt the Company's PSC Fertility Monitor for use in detecting hormone and ovulation patterns in dairy cows. The company retained AlcheraBio founder Dr. Linda Rhodes to help design and manage the testing program. According to Pheromone Sciences President Chris Neuman, “Dr Rhodes' experience combines over 23 years in dairy cattle veterinary practice, research in reproductive physiology, and human and animal drug discovery and development. Dr. Rhodes has experience with designing and executing clinical trials and leading product development teams in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry.”

In a follow up August 2003 press release, Pheromone Sciences announced the completion of the first field trial of the device for cattle. Adequate sensor data as well as complete progesterone and ultrasound records were obtained in 32 of these subjects that reflected a 58% operational trial enrollment completion success rate. The trial's endpoint results coupled with the simulation derived from proposed changes to the computer algorithm suggest that the Company’s ability to adapt its proprietary Fertilité-OV™ Monitor technology to the specific physiology of the dairy cow in the dairy farm environment can meet a success level, defined as the correct prediction of oncoming estrus, of 60%. Additional feasibility trials will be undertaken to further study and confirm this anticipated success rate upon implementation of the changes to the computer algorithm. According to the company’s press release, “the actual window of opportunity for dairy cow breeding would be predictions of ovulation—2 days to 0 days before ovulation, a recognized requirement for successful breeding.”

"These results compare very favorably to those rates achieved with current technologies available to the small and large scale dairy farmer," commented study leader Dr. Walter H. Johnson, DVM, MVSc, Dipl. ACT and Professor of Theriogenology at the University of Guelph. "We are very pleased that this collaboration with the scientific staff of Pheromone Sciences continues to build momentum. A product that can increase conception rates in dairy herd breeding would positively impact productivity on dairy farms across North America."
(Back To Top.)