LOS ANGELES, Feb. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxis International Inc. (OTC/QB: OXIS) announced today that the company's blood cancer drug, OXS-1550, was described as a "clinical trial triumph" after one of the first patients treated with the drug went into complete cancer remission.

An article on the University of Minnesota's website highlighted one patient whose aggressive and deadly form of cancer went into complete remission after she was treated with OXS-1550. The article described the history of the drug, which was developed by Dr. Daniel Vallera, a research scientist at the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center.

The full text of the article is available here: https://give.umn.edu/stories/clinical-trial-triumph.

Vallera, a scholar and professor in the department of therapeutic radiology, has been studying cancer for more than 30 years. He said the new cancer treatment, which he originally named DT2219, is an injected biologic agent designed to identify cancer cells and kill them, while leaving healthy cells alone.

He has said OXS-1550 is an important alternative to chemotherapy, which kills both cancerous and healthy cells and creates toxicity problems for some patients.

Oxis International holds the worldwide commercial rights for the drug, which it acquired in 2015 and renamed OXS-1550. The Food and Drug Administration has authorized a Phase I/Phase II clinical trial.

One of the first patients to receive the drug was Cynthia Cattell, who said other treatments for her aggressive B-cell lymphoma had failed. Cattell received four infusions of the drug over an eight-day span in the Phase 1 clinical trial.

One month later, a doctor overseeing the clinical trial found a 75 percent reduction in the size of Cattell's tumor, the article said.

Cattell, a University of Minnesota physics professor, received a second round of treatments, which wiped out the tumor. She has been in complete remission for more than 18 months.

After the successful treatment, Cattell was introduced to Dr. Vallera.

"To meet the person who developed the drug that saved your life – incredible," Cattell said in the article. "I'm so grateful for the work he's done, and I hope that by participating in the trial I've helped them learn more about the drug and that it will help save other people."

Anthony Cataldo, chairman and chief executive of Oxis, said the company is in sound financial condition after a debt restructuring and is now focused on the next clinical trial.

"Too often, in biotech, the focus is on the numbers," Cataldo said. "What we're excited about is the real meaning of all of this – somebody's life is continuing because of these efforts. These aren't just numbers, these are real people whose lives are benefitting from our technology."

Vallera's research was supported by the National Cancer Institute and two private philanthropists. One of those donors was Jeff Lion, whose son, Josh, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as a child. Josh survived the disease, but his father remains active in supporting cancer research.

"At the end of the day, scientists like Dan are going to cure cancers one at a time; it won't be the same cure for all," Lion said.

ABOUT OXIS INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Oxis International, Inc., through a wholly owned subsidiary, Oxis Biotech, Inc., develops innovative drugs focused on the treatment of cancer and other unmet medical needs. Oxis' lead drug candidate, OXS-1550 (DT2219ARL) is a novel bispecific scFv recombinant fusion protein-drug conjugate composed of the variable regions of the heavy and light chains of anti-CD19 and anti-CD22 antibodies and a modified form of diphtheria toxin as its cytotoxic drug payload. OXS-1550 simultaneously targets cancer cells expressing the CD19 receptor or CD22 receptor or both receptors. When OXS-1550 binds to cancer cells, the cancer cells internalize the drug and are killed due to the action of drug's cytotoxic payload. OXS-1550 has demonstrated success in early human clinical trials in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma or leukemia. OXS-4235 is a small molecule therapeutic candidate targeting the treatment of multiple myeloma and associated osteolytic lesions. In in vitro and in vivo models of multiple myeloma and osteoporosis, OXS-4235 demonstrated the ability to kill multiple myeloma cells, and decrease osteolytic lesions in bone. OXIS' lead drug candidate, OXS-2175, is a small molecule therapeutic candidate targeting the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In in vitro and in vivo models of TNBC, OXS-2175 demonstrated the ability to inhibit metastasis.

Forward-Looking Statements - Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently unreliable and actual results may differ materially. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the payment of dividends, marketing and distribution plans, development activities and anticipated operating results. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include such factors as the Company's ability to accomplish its business initiatives, significant fluctuations in marketing expenses and ability to achieve and expand significant levels of revenues, or recognize net income, from the sale of its products and services, as well as the introduction of competing products, or management's ability to attract and maintain qualified personnel necessary for the development and commercialization of its planned products, and other information that may be detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Company website: www.oxis.com

For investor questions, please contact Steve Weldon, Chief Financial Officer, Oxis International Inc., (800) 304-9888.

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SOURCE Oxis International Inc.