Clinical study results to be presented at annual meeting

 
TIDMYMB 
 
YM BIOSCIENCES ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF RANDOMIZED NIMOTUZUMAB STUDY TO BE 
PRESENTED IN A POSTER AT ASCO ANNUAL MEETING 
 
    MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 28 /CNW/ - YM BioSciences Inc. (NYSE Amex:YMI, 
TSX:YM, AIM:YMBA), an oncology company that identifies, develops and 
commercializes differentiated products for patients worldwide, today announced 
that a poster presentation will report results from a randomized trial of 
nimotuzumab (aka BIOMAb/TheraCIM/h-R3) in patients with head and neck cancer 
conducted by Biocon Limited (Bangalore, India), a licensee of CIMAB SA, YM's 
licensor, at the 45th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical 
Oncology (ASCO) held in Orlando, Florida from May 29 to June 2, 2009. 
    The poster entitled "A phase IIb 4-arm open-label randomized study to 
assess the safety and efficacy of h-R3 monoclonal antibody against EGFR in 
combination with chemoradiation therapy or radiation therapy in patients with 
advanced (stage III or IVA) inoperable head and neck cancer (abstract No. 
6041)" will be presented in the Head and Neck Cancer general poster session on 
Monday, June 1 from 8:00AM until 12:00PM on Level 2 in West Hall C. 
 
    About YM BioSciences 
 
    YM BioSciences Inc. is a life sciences product development company that 
identifies and advances a diverse portfolio of promising cancer-related 
products at various stages of development. The Company is currently developing 
two late-stage products: nimotuzumab, an EGFR-targeting Affinity-Optimized 
Antibody(TM), and AeroLEF(R), a proprietary, inhaled-delivery composition of 
free and liposome-encapsulated fentanyl. YM has proven regulatory and clinical 
trial expertise and a diversified business model designed to reduce risk while 
advancing clinical products toward international approval, marketing and 
commercialization. 
    Nimotuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody in development worldwide, 
targeting multiple tumor types primarily in combination with radiation and 
chemoradiation. It is significantly differentiated from all other currently 
marketed EGFR-targeting agents due to its remarkably benign side-effect 
profile. Nimotuzumab's anti-tumor activity has led to its approval for 
marketing in over 12 countries, In more than 3,500 patients reported as having 
been treated with nimotuzumab worldwide to date, no Grade IV incidents of 
radiation dermatitis have been described, severe rash has not been observed 
and reports of the other severe side-effects that are typical of 
EGFR-targeting molecules have been rare. Nimotuzumab is licensed to YM's 
majority-owned subsidiary, CIMYM BioSciences Inc., by CIMAB S.A., and was 
developed at the Center of Molecular Immunology. YM is developing AeroLEF for 
the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain. The product is differentiated 
from other approaches using fentanyl because patients can individually control 
the analgesia required for their differing intensities of pain. AeroLEF met 
all endpoints in a randomized Phase II trial and is currently being prepared 
for late-stage development internationally. 
 
    This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which reflect 
the Company's current expectation regarding future events. These 
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause 
actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any 
future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such 
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, 
changing market conditions, the successful and timely completion of clinical 
studies, the establishment of corporate alliances, the impact of competitive 
products and pricing, new product development, uncertainties related to the 
regulatory approval process and other risks detailed from time to time in the 
Company's ongoing quarterly and annual reporting. Certain of the assumptions 
made in preparing forward-looking statements include but are not limited to 
the following: that nimotuzumab will continue to demonstrate a competitive 
safety profile in ongoing and future clinical trials; that AeroLEF(R) will 
continue to generate positive efficacy and safety data in future clinical 
trials; and that YM and its various partners will complete their respective 
clinical trials within the timelines communicated in this release. We 
undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking 
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or 
otherwise. 
 
 
For further information: James Smith, the Equicom Group Inc., Tel. (416) 
815-0700 x 229, Email: jsmith(at)equicomgroup.com; Thomas Fechtner, the Trout 
Group LLC, Tel. [phone], Email: tfechtner(at)troutgroup.com; Nominated 
Adviser, Canaccord Adams Limited, Ryan Gaffney, Tel. [phone] 
(YM. YMI YMBA) 
 
 
 
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