 |
||
| HOME | ||
|
||
| Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) |
||
|
||
| Other Leukemia Types (ALL / CLL / CML / HCL) |
||
|
||
| Myelodysplastic Syndrome | ||
|
||
| Symptoms and Diagnosis | ||
|
||
| Leukemia Treatment Options | ||
|
||
| " Chemotherapy | ||
|
||
| " Blood Stem Cell Transplants | ||
|
||
| " Radiation and Surgery | ||
|
||
| " Chemo Side Effects | ||
|
||
| " Clinical Trials Info | ||
|
||
| " Coping with Leukemia | ||
|
||
| " What to Ask Your Doctor | ||
|
||
| Financial Assistance | ||
|
||
| At Risk Jobs/Exposure | ||
|
||
| Leukemia Resources | ||
|
||
| Survivor's Story | ||
|
||
| Leukemia News | ||
|
||
|
Search for information:
|
||
 |
Blood Cancer &
|
  |
Leukemia Cancer Information
|
Leukemia Cancer News - Return to Menu Student's bond with 10-year-old leukemia patient spurs her to take action against disease Reynolds High senior Ashley Peterson show one of the orange bands she is selling to raise awareness about the fight against leukemia. By Susan Reinhardt It would be easy to get lost in shuffle of diapers, teething rings and more milestones than one can imagine. Not Ashley. She took her position as oldest - as a caretaker and high-achiever - and is planning to become a doctor. If people assume she'd choose a field far removed from children, they'd be wrong. The Reynolds High School senior and daughter of Bruce and Cindy Peterson, is set on becoming a pediatric oncologist. A young boy named Josh Shipman, son of Glen and Lynn Shipman of Zironia, convinced her this was the way to go. Josh is a 10-year-old leukemia patient who has changed Ashley's life with his will to live, his fight and his enthusiasm. For her senior project called Pediatric Oncology, she became close friends with the child and often was at his side. Josh has Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, AML, a form that affects about 10,000 new people each year, only 15 percent of whom are children. He had been sick since last Christmas. "He almost died and doctors said it was miracle he made it," Glen Shipman said. "He was in intensive care for 16 days and on life support." Ashley and I met one day for lunch and she carried with her a bag full of orange plastic bands. They are the fashion rage among teens and young people who wear them in different colors, each representing the fight to cure various cancers. Orange is for leukemia. The bracelets say, "Say it, fight, it cure it." "Josh's school has been selling these bracelets like the 'Livestrong' ones for the Lance Armstrong Foundation," Ashley said. He is a fourth-grade student at Upward Elementary in Hendersonville. "They've been extremely involved in Josh's fight to beat leukemia." Ashley said she decided to get her high school involved as well. She ordered 500 of the bracelets and sells them at cost. She's not trying to make money - but wants to raise awareness. I called Josh at the hospital where he was having another round of chemotherapy. "He was in remission, believe it or not, after the first round of chemo," said dad Glen Shipman. "But they have to do it so many times to make sure it's gone." Josh said he was feeling fine, just a little tired, when we spoke last Friday. "Ashley comes and we just do crafts and arts," he said. "One time we tie-dyed some T-shirts and once we made some slime." "I love kids," Ashley said. "I'm completely set on being a doctor and helping other children." Ashley, by the way, will be wearing her orange bracelet with her prom dress. Susan Reinhardt can be reached at 232-5844. Benefit dinner Upward Elementary School in Hendersonville is having a catered spaghetti dinner and entertainment event at 5:30 p.m. April 21. Cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children younger than 12. The dinner is a benefit for Josh Shipman, who is fighting leukemia. He enjoys receiving cards and anything Pokemon as well as little surprises. Send cards to 709 South Bob's Creek Road, Zirconia, NC 28790. Research gives hope to leukemia patients TENNESSEE (myDNA News) The discovery resulted from an experiment in which a sample of human blood containing a variety of different immune cells was placed in a dish along with a type of leukemia cell found in humans called K562. The K562 cells were genetically modified to carry excess numbers of both 4-1BBL and IL-15 proteins. When introduced with NK cells, the NK cell population was triggered to expand to 10,000 times their original number. Researchers then genetically modified the NK cells by adding a receptor to recognize the CD19 protein, which is located on the surface of leukemia cells. When the receptor on the NK cells is triggered, a reaction is set off in which the NK cells aggressively attack the leukemic cells. Previous studies have shown NK cells to be effective in treating advanced acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), which is a cancer of the bone marrow and has developed immunity to chemotherapy. A study conducted by the University of Minnesota Cancer Center showed that half-matched NK cells can be transmitted to patients with AML to fight the cancer into remission. The patient will then become eligible for bone-marrow transplants, which is a more effective long-term treatment to such an illness.
Callisto Pharmaceuticals Receives Second Orphan Drug Designation on Annamycin With Granting of Indication to Treat Acute Myeloid Leukemia Annamycin Now Has Orphan Drug Designation on Both Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Acute Myeloid Leukemia NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 06/28/2005 -- Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: KAL), a biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the development of drugs to treat cancer, announced today that it has received notification from the Office of Orphan Products Development of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of orphan drug designation for the company's drug candidate Annamycin for use in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Initially developed at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Annamycin, a second-generation anthracycline, is currently being developed by Callisto to treat both acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. A single-agent clinical trial of Annamycin in adult relapsed ALL patients is expected to proceed shortly. Callisto also plans to initiate a clinical trial of Annamycin in combination with Ara-C in adult relapsed AML patients in 2005. "We are pleased that the FDA has granted orphan drug designation to Annamycin to treat both AML and ALL patients," said Callisto Chief Executive Officer Dr. Gary S. Jacob. "This is very timely for Callisto, as we are about to embark on an ambitious clinical development program on Annamycin in relapsed leukemia patients. Orphan drug designation for Annamycin to treat AML, in addition to the earlier granting of orphan drug designation for Annamycin to treat ALL, provides additional assurance to the company and its investors that Callisto is well protected against potential competition." About Orphan Drug Designation The Orphan Drug Act is intended to encourage development of products for rare diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. Orphan drug designation, along with approval by the FDA for commercialization of Annamycin, entitles Callisto to seven years of market exclusivity in the United States, provided Callisto continues to meet certain conditions established by the FDA. During the seven-year exclusivity period, the FDA will not accept or approve other applications to market the same medicinal product for the same therapeutic indication. For products designated as orphan drugs, the FDA not only provides market protection for the developing company, but also provides certain tax credits, eligibility for research grants and protocol assistance, opportunities for regulatory agency assistance on review of clinical protocols, and waiver of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) filing fee. About Annamycin Annamycin, a drug from the anthracycline family, earlier completed a Phase I/IIa trial in refractory leukemia patients. The drug was developed at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to address limitations associated with other anthracyclines. Annamycin circumvents multiple drug resistance, shows decreased cardiotoxicity, and achieves greater than 95 percent incorporation into liposomes, providing a favorable means of drug administration. About Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Callisto is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of drugs to treat cancer. Callisto has two lead drugs in clinical development, Annamycin to treat relapsed leukemia, and Atiprimod to treat relapsed multiple myeloma. Callisto intends to initiate a clinical trial of Annamycin in relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients in mid 2005. Annamycin, a drug from the anthracycline family, has a novel therapeutic profile, including activity against drug resistant tumors and significantly reduced cardiotoxicity. Callisto's second drug, Atiprimod, is in a Phase I/IIa clinical trial in relapsed multiple myeloma patients, and is a small-molecule, orally available drug with antiproliferative and antiangiogenic activity. Callisto also has drugs in preclinical development for melanoma, gastrointestinal inflammation, and a program focused on the development of a drug to protect against staphylococcus and streptococcus biowarfare agents. Callisto has exclusive worldwide licenses from AnorMED Inc. and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to develop, manufacture, use and sell Atiprimod and Annamycin, respectively. For additional information, visit www.callistopharma.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this press release are forward-looking. Such statements are indicated by words such as "expect," "should," "anticipate" and similar words indicating uncertainty in facts and figures. Although Callisto believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. As discussed in the Callisto Pharmaceuticals Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2004, and other periodic reports, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of the following factors, among others: uncertainties associated with product development, the risk that products that appeared promising in early clinical trials do not demonstrate efficacy in larger-scale clinical trials, the risk that Callisto will not obtain approval to market its products, the risks associated with dependence upon key personnel and the need for additional financing. ----------------------------------------------------------- Investor Relations: Company Contact:
|
|
|