Cell & Stem Cell Therapies Virtual Conference

liver411

[There will be a virtual conference about liver on December 14, 2001 at 1 PM Eastern Time (Beijing Time December 15, 2001 at 2 AM)] Wednesday December 12, 11:44 am Eastern Time Press Release SOURCE: Incara Pharmaceuticals Corporation Incara to Participate in Cell and Stem Cell Therapies Virtual Conference RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Incara Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Nasdaq: INCR - news) President and CEO, Clayton I. Duncan, will participate in an internet based, virtual conference on Cell and Stem Cell Therapies produced by Wall Street Webcasting and carried online by the Wall Street Transcript. The conference will be hosted by Scott Stromatt, M.D. a vice president and research analyst with the investment firm C.E. Unterberg, Towbin. Conference presentations are available athttp://www.wallstreetwebcasting.com/vconf/demo/stromatt.html and Dr. Stromatt will conduct a live panel discussion with the conference participants at 1:00 pm Eastern time on Friday, December 14, 2001. Incara recently conducted a pre-IND meeting with the FDA regarding clinical studies of transplantation of a population of liver cells containing liver progenitor and stem cells for treatment of liver failure. Incara obtains liver cells from organ donors whose livers are inappropriate for whole organ transplantation. The company is now preparing an IND (Investigational New Drug) application that it expects to file with the FDA within the next six months. Assuming allowance of the IND by the FDA, Incara plans to initiate clinical trials in adult patients with chronic liver failure. This year chronic liver diseases will kill over 30,000 people in the United States alone. The incidence of chronic liver failure is expected to increase over the next ten years as a result of the ``silent epidemic'' of hepatitis C. Estimates are that up to four million people in the U.S. have been infected with this virus. Researchers project that over the next 10 years, approximately 15% of these people will develop cirrhosis. Although decades of research have led to a better understanding of diseases that affect the liver, the only cure for many of these diseases is a liver transplant. There are only about 4,900 transplantable donor livers available in the United States each year while there are over 18,500 patients currently on waiting lists for a liver transplant. Further, there are 100,000 adults with severe cirrhosis that could become candidates for a transplant. Incara believes that liver cell therapy offers promise to patients afflicted with these devastating diseases. Incara is pioneering the use of human liver stem and progenitor cells for the treatment of a variety of liver diseases. Sometimes referred to as adult liver stem cells, these cells are a population of early cells in the liver lineage isolated from donor organs that are not suitable for whole organ transplant. Progenitor cells have significant expansion potential and can differentiate into mature liver cells that provide liver function. Incara Pharmaceuticals Corporation (http://www.incara.com ) is developing therapies focused on tissue protection, repair and regeneration. In addition to the liver stem and progenitor cell therapy program, Incara is developing a series of catalytic antioxidants for protection of cells from damage such as that occurring in stroke and cancer radiation therapy, and protection of cells from transplant rejection. Incara is also conducting a Phase 2/3 multicenter clinical trial for OP2000, an ultra-low molecular weight heparin being developed with Elan Corporation for treatment of ulcerative colitis. The statements in this press release that are not purely statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, and actual results might differ materially from those anticipated. These statements and other statements made elsewhere by Incara or its representatives, which are identified or qualified by words such as ``intends,'' ``likely,'' ``will,'' ``suggests,'' ``expects,'' ``might,'' ``may,'' ``believe,'' ``could,'' ``should,'' ``would,'' ``anticipates'' or ``plans,'' the negative of those terms or similar expressions, are based on a number of assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause results to differ include risks associated with uncertainties of scientific research, clinical trials, product development activities and the need to obtain funds for operations. These and other important risks are described in Incara's reports on Form 10- K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K and its registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Incara assumes no obligation to update the information in this release. SOURCE: Incara Pharmaceuticals Corporation