BLUE BELL, PA
February 20, 2004 - InKine Pharmaceutical Company, Inc.
(Nasdaq: INKP) )today announced that Leonard S. Jacob, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of InKine will open the Nasdaq stock market in New York on March 1, 2004 to kick off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Dr. Jacob will be joined by members of InKine’s senior management team and senior representatives from the Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation (CCFA).
The American Cancer Society estimates that 146,940 cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in 2004 and 56,730 deaths will occur. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, yet it is highly preventable and treatable with simple screening exams such as colonoscopy. A recent published study cited that liquid bowel preparations are the most common deterrent to patients undergoing colonoscopy screening. InKine is the manufacturer of Visicol® tablets, the first and only FDA approved, patient preferred, tablet purgative indicated for bowel cleansing prior to colonoscopy.
“We are honored to be able to open the Nasdaq on March 1st and help focus the public on Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month,” said Dr. Jacob. “We feel that Visicol® is an important tool that gastroenterologists can use to help break down the most common barrier to getting a colonoscopy, the bowel preparation. We hope that having Visicol® as an alternative to liquid bowel purgatives will encourage people to get colonoscopies and reduce their risk of colorectal cancer mortality,” added Dr. Jacob.
From 9:22 to 9:26 AM (EST), Dr. Jacob will discuss InKine, Colorectal Cancer, and Visicol®. To view the opening on the Nasdaq Webcam, you must have Real Player and are advised to download the Webcam by 9:15 AM (EST) at http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/marketsite_about.stm under the heading MarketSite Live Webcam and click on Real Player.
About InKine Pharmaceutical
InKine
Pharmaceutical Company, Inc. is a publicly traded
biopharmaceutical company focused on the diagnosis and
treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. The Company's
development strategy is to acquire late-stage drug
candidates with short time lines to commercialization. The
Company's first product, Visicol™ is the first and only
tablet purgative preparation indicated for bowel cleansing
prior to colonoscopy. InKine's second product, IBStat™, is a
novel oral hysocyamine spray for the treatment of Irritable
Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and spasm of the colon. Additionally,
the Company is developing other clinical compounds such as
Colirest™, which is in clinical trials for the treatment of
Crohn's disease and completed Phase II trials for the
treatment of ulcerative colitis. For further information,
please visit InKine on their web site http://www.inkine.com.
In addition to historical facts or
statement of current condition, this press release may
contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements provide InKine's current expectations or
forecasts of future events. These may include statements
regarding anticipated scientific progress on its research
programs, development of potential pharmaceutical products,
interpretation of clinical results, prospects for regulatory
approval, manufacturing development and capabilities, market
prospects for its products, sales and earnings projections,
and other statements regarding matters that are not
historical facts. You may identify some of these
forward-looking statements by the use of words in the
statements such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect,"
"project," "intend," "plan," "believe" or other words and
terms of similar meaning. InKine's performance and financial
results could differ materially from those reflected in
these forward-looking statements due to general financial,
economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the
biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries as well as more
specific risks and uncertainties such as those set forth in
its reports on Form 10-Q and 10-K filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these risks and
uncertainties, any or all of these forward-looking
statements may prove to be incorrect. Therefore, you should
not rely on any such factors or forward-looking statements.
Furthermore, InKine does not intend (and it is not
obligated) to update publicly any forward-looking
statements. This discussion is permitted by the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. |
