HANGZHOU, China, July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aida Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: AIDA), one of mainland China's leading pharmaceutical companies, today announced that the Company has successfully concluded the Phase I trials for gene-therapy anti-tumor drug Rh-Apo2L.
   
Rh-Apo2L was approved for clinical trials in May 2005 by China's State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA). The trials were conducted from September 2005 through May 2006 at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Oncology Hospital in Beijing, China.
   
The Phase I clinical trials included 20 patients with advanced-stage malignant tumors. The researched cancer types  included non-Hodgkin lymphoma, sarcoma, adrenal gland cortical tumors, non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and parotid gland capsule adenocarcinoma.
Researchers found that clinical trials support the belief that Rh-Apo2L reduces the tumor size of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, sarcoma and adrenal gland cortical tumors. Additionally, researchers found that Rh-Apo2L also affects the tumor size of non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer and parotid gland capsule adenocarcinoma. Specific curative results of Rh-Apo2L will be confirmed in Phase II and III clinical trials.
   
Jin Biao, Aida Pharmaceuticals' Chairman, stated, "The preliminary results of the Phase I trials indicate that Rh-Apo2L is effective in reducing the size of tumors through a genetic process to the benefit of patients. Not only is tumor size reduced, but patients only experienced the nominal side-effects which are common in similar cancer fighting treatments. However, more severe side effects such as blood cell toxicity were not apparent. To date, our studies on Rh-Apo2L indicate that it may be one of the safest drugs for tumor therapy available. This is a great success for China's biotechnology industry and an encouraging event for us at Aida."
   
Aida Pharmaceuticals is scheduling a press conference next month to discuss the conclusion and positive results of Rh-Apo2L Phase I trials. The Company plans to imminently apply for Phase II and Phase III clinical trials with the SFDA. The Company also reiterates its previous statement that it anticipates the completion of all clinical trials by the end of
2007 and that Rh-Apo2L will receive all regulatory approval needed for commercialization in 2008.