UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 27, 2010 (December 21, 2010)
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BIOCANCELL THERAPEUTICS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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333-156252
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20-4630076
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
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Commission File Number
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(IRS Employer Identification No.)
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Beck Science Center, 8 Hartom St, Har Hotzvim, Jerusalem, Israel, 97775
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 972-2-548-6555
(Former name or former address, if change since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17CFR 230.425)
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Item 8.01
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Other Events
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BioCancell Therapeutics, Inc. has successfully completed pre-clinical animal studies, using mice, that examined the use of BioCancell's new product candidate BC-821 as a treatment for glioblastoma (the most common and agressive type of primary human brain tumor). The research, carried out by Dr. Doron Amit in the Hebrew University laboratory of Prof. Abraham Hochberg, BioCancell's founder and chief scientist, showed that BC-821 succeeded in significantly inhibiting brain tumor volume growth in animals by 60% compared to an untreated control group. BioCancell considers these animal testing results to be a positive indication of the efficacy potential of BC-821 as a treatment for glioblastoma.
The mechanism of action of BC-821 is based on a plasmid that synthesizes Diphtheria Toxin in cancerous cells, activated by the regulatory sequences of either or both of two target genes: the H19 gene and the IGF2 gene, both of which are expressed in cancerous cells only. The expression of either target gene is sufficient to activate the drug. BC-821's double activation method is designed to kill more cancerous cells in a greater number of patients more efficiently. An international patent application for this product was filed in 2008.
In light of the initial results, BC-821 will undergo additional pre-clinical testing as a treatment for additional applications. BioCancell will consider continued development of this product candidate for types of cancer with high levels of IGF2 expression, depending on the resources available to the company.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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BIOCANCELL THERAPEUTICS, INC.
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Dated: December 27, 2010
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By:
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/s/ Avraham Hampel
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Avraham Hampel
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Company Secretary
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