PHILADELPHIA -- Temple University Hospital's Center For Women's Health is participating in a national study to determine the safety and effectiveness of an investigational treatment for cervical dysplasia. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 500,000 women are diagnosed with high-grade cervical dysplasia each year, with roughly 10,000 cases progressing to cervical cancer.

For numerous women afflicted with the common sexually transmitted disease known as human papillomavirus (HPV), the immune system can not prevent certain high-risk strains of the virus from causing cervical dysplasia, a common precursor to cervical cancer. "The expected widespread availability of two preventive vaccines may lower the incidence of HPV infection and reduce the risk of cervical cancer," said Enrigue Hernandez, The Abraham Roth Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Temple University Hospital and School of Medicine. "However, for those women already infected with HPV, and those who will become infected, there are emerging non-surgical options in development."

HPV vaccines are expected to be a significant advance in women's healthcare, but they will not protect all women from cervical cancer. "Prophylactic vaccines will probably not help the more than 350,000 women in the U.S. already infected with HPV who have moderate to severe cervical dysplasia, a precancerous condition," explained Hernandez.

Amolimogene is an investigational immunotherapeutic from MGI PHARMA, Inc. that is currently being evaluated in a pivotal phase 2 clinical program in multiple centers in the U.S., including Philadelphia. "This product candidate is designed to enhance the body's immune response to cervical dysplasia, and is being developed to offer patients with cervical dysplasia and healthcare providers an option to surgical intervention," explained Hernandez. "Qualified participants must be 25 or younger, with an abnormal Pap te
'"/>

Contact: Vivica Aycox
vaycox@temple.edu
215-707-7790
Temple University Health System
30-Jan-2007