Sector Close Up - Pharmaceutical and Biotech Stocks - Is Gene Therapy the Next Major Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment

Released on: October 22, 2007, 1:00 pm

Press Release Author: InvestorIdeas.com

Industry: Biotech

Press Release Summary: InvestorIdeas.com, a leading online global investor resource,
issues the Sector Close Up - Pharmaceutical and Biotech Stocks. Gene therapy, which
entails the introduction of genetic material into a person's cells to fight or
prevent disease, is a highly promising area but one that is long on theory and short
on commercial product.


Press Release Body: POINT ROBERTS, Wash., Delta B.C., October 22, 2007 -
InvestorIdeas.com, a leading online global investor resource, issues the Sector
Close Up - Pharmaceutical and Biotech Stocks. Gene therapy, which entails the
introduction of genetic material into a person's cells to fight or prevent disease,
is a highly promising area but one that is long on theory and short on commercial
product.

Benda Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OTCBB: BPMA) is a China-based pharmaceutical company
that has become recognized for its cancer gene therapy treatment Gendicine®, which
represents the world's first gene therapy medicine on the market for the treatment
of cancer. Gendicine® has been used to treat more than 50 types of malignant tumors
across 6,000 patients, including more than 1,800 foreigners. According to the
Company, in clinical trials on 135 patients affected by head and neck tumors, 64%
had their tumors eliminated after one month of Gendicine® treatment - a 340%
increase in efficacy relative to traditional treatments.

According to Justin Davis from After Market Support, LLC, North American
representatives for Benda Pharmaceutical, "The addition of Gendicine® to Benda's
drug portfolio thrusts the Company to the leading edge of both the gene therapy
revolution and the world's ongoing fight against cancer. As the first
cancer-treating gene therapy drug available to the public - anywhere - Gendicine®
has garnered international attention and has turned both the medical and investing
spotlights directly on Benda. Moreover, the demonstrated efficacy of Gendicine® has
already translated into immediate financial returns for Benda - $3.8 MM in orders in
one day after a recent medical conference in China. With the Company preparing to
present the latest independent findings to an international gene therapy symposium
in Europe, Benda finds itself at the cusp of what could become a global phenomenon."

Another player in the gene therapy arena is Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. (Chart), a
biopharmaceutical company focused on targeted molecular therapies for the treatment
of cancer and other diseases. Introgen's gene therapy drug ADVEXIN® has not yet been
approved - it is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of head and
neck cancer and Li-Fraumeni Syndrome. According to the Company, regulatory filings
in both the United States and in Europe are expected to be completed by the end of
2007.

Sector Close Up - Cancer Treatment Plays

Delcath Systems, Inc. (Chart), developer of technology for targeted delivery of
therapeutic and chemotherapeutic agents, recently announced that its Phase III trial
was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under a Fast Track
designation. Despite this progress, the Company has seen its shares drop more than a
dollar since mid-September to its current level of $2.87.

Cell Genesys, Inc. (Chart), currently conducting Phase 3 trials of the Company's
GVAXT immunotherapy for prostate cancer, has rebounded slightly since early August's
share price of $3.22, closing Friday at $3.41.

Benda Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OTCBB: BPMA), on forecasts for 2008 of over $20 million
in revenue from the Company's cancer treatment Gendicine®, has been trading between
$2.20-$2.49 over the past few weeks, up from the $0.70 level at which it began
trading under one year ago.

Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. (Chart) has seen its share price move from $3.16 at the
beginning of August, to its recent close of $4.02, an increase of approximately 27%.

At the beginning of 2006, pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer (Chart) received FDA approval
for Sutent® for the treatment of rare forms of intestinal and kidney cancers.
Sutent® is currently in trials for the treatment of breast, lung, and colorectal
cancer. Pfizer shares closed recently at $24.07.
Since mid-August, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Chart) shares have risen approximately 5%
and ImClone (Chart) has seen dramatic results, up $13.48 in the same time period,
based on Friday's close. Both companies have recently found themselves in the
spotlight after an announcement that an agreement has been formed with Merck KGaA to
co-develop and co-market the cancer treatment Erbitux® in Japan.
Showcase Pharmaceutical Company:
Benda Pharmaceutical Inc. (OTCBB: BPMA), a China-based pharmaceutical company, is a
pure play on explosive Chinese pharmaceutical spending and the global search for a
cancer cure. For more info visit: http://www.investorideas.com/co/bpma/
Compensation is disclosed in disclaimer below.
About InvestorIdeas.com
InvestorIdeas.com is a leading global investor and industry research resource portal
specialized in sector investing covering over thirty industry sectors and global
markets including China, India, Middle East and Australia.
InvestorIdeas.com Disclaimer: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp. Our sites
do not make recommendations, but offer information portals to research news,
articles, stock lists and recent research. Nothing on our sites should be construed
as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to
research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information
presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public
documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. This site is
currently compensated by featured companies, news submissions and online
advertising. Benda Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OTCBB: BPMA) pays $4000USD per month. Benda
Pharmaceutical, Inc. is also a client of After Market Support, LLC.
For more information contact:
Dawn Van Zant: 800-665-0411 - dvanzant@investorideas.com
Source: InvestorIdeas.com, Benda Pharmaceutical, Inc.



Web Site: http://www.investorideas.com

Contact Details: Dawn Van Zant: 800-665-0411 - dvanzant@investorideas.com

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