CytRx Global Pivotal Phase 3 Clinical Trial With Aldoxorubicin Achieves 191 Target Events Triggering Statistical Data Analysis

LOS ANGELES, April 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CytRx Corporation (NASDAQ: CYTR), a biopharmaceutical research and development company specializing in oncology, today announced that it has reached the target number of progression events in its pivotal, global phase 3 clinical trial with aldoxorubicin as a treatment for patients with second-line soft tissue sarcomas. In accordance with the statistical analysis plan which is incorporated in the Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) granted by the FDA, 191 events were required to trigger the analysis of the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS). The events were reviewed and verified by an independent, blinded radiology organization contracted by CytRx to analyze all of the scans for the Phase 3 pivotal clinical trial.   

"Reaching the number of events is an important milestone for the aldoxorubicin Phase 3 trial," said Daniel Levitt, M.D., Ph.D., CytRx's EVP and Chief Medical Officer. "Now we, along with our contract research organization, are in the process of collecting, verifying and analyzing all of the trial data from the 79 sites around the globe. While this is a large undertaking, we expect to have top-line results at the end of this quarter. We are continuing to actively treat and follow patients who have not progressed and are analyzing data to determine the overall survival and safety."

"Aldoxorubicin represents an important new drug for treating patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas," commented Sant Chawla, M.D., F.R.A.C.P., Principal Investigator and the Director of the Sarcoma Oncology Center in Santa Monica, California. "The Phase 3 trial design is unique in that it is the first trial in soft tissue sarcoma to compare a single agent to five of the most commonly used treatment options. Like many in the sarcoma community, I eagerly look forward to the top-line results with aldoxorubicin." 

CytRx plans to discuss with the FDA initiating a rolling New Drug Application by the end of 2016, subject to the outcome of the Phase 3 pivotal trial. Pursuant to FDA approval, CytRx expects to launch aldoxorubicin in the United States as a treatment for patients with second-line soft tissue sarcoma in the second half of 2017.   

Phase 3 Trial Design

The multicenter, randomized, open-label pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial enrolled 433 late-stage patients with metastatic, locally advanced or unresectable soft tissue sarcomas who have either not responded to, or who have progressed following treatment with one or more systemic regimens of nonadjuvant chemotherapies. Trial patients were randomized 1:1 to be treated with aldoxorubicin or the investigator's choice of an approved chemotherapeutic regimen, including doxorubicin, ifosfamide, dacarbazine, pazopanib (Votrient®), or gemcitabine plus docetaxel. The primary endpoint of the study is PFS and will be calculated after 191 events occur. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, response rates and safety. In January 2014, CytRx announced that it received approval from the FDA to amend the Phase 3 protocol to continue dosing patients with aldoxorubicin until disease progression as defined by RECIST 1.1 criteria. The ability to dose until disease progression creates the potential for substantially improved Phase 3 efficacy results.

About Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Soft tissue sarcoma is a cancer occurring in muscle, fat, blood vessels, tendons, fibrous tissues and connective tissue, and can arise anywhere in the body at any age. According to the American Cancer Society, there are approximately 50 types of soft tissue sarcomas. In 2013 more than 11,400 new cases were diagnosed in the U.S. and approximately 4,400 Americans died from this disease. In addition, approximately 40,000 new cases and 13,000 deaths in the U.S. and Europe are part of a growing underserved market.

About Aldoxorubicin

The widely used chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin is delivered systemically and is highly toxic, which limits its dose to a level below its maximum therapeutic benefit. Doxorubicin also is associated with many side effects, especially the potential for damage to heart muscle at cumulative doses greater than 450 mg/m2. Aldoxorubicin combines doxorubicin with a novel single-molecule linker that binds directly and specifically to circulating albumin, the most plentiful protein in the bloodstream. Protein-hungry tumors concentrate albumin, thus increasing the delivery of the linker molecule with the attached doxorubicin to tumor sites. In the acidic environment of the tumor, but not the neutral environment of healthy tissues, doxorubicin is released. This allows for greater doses (3 ½ to 4 times) of doxorubicin to be administered while reducing its toxic side effects. In studies thus far there has been no evidence of clinically significant effects of aldoxorubicin on heart muscle, even at cumulative doses of drug well in excess of 2,000 mg/m².

About CytRx Corporation

CytRx Corporation is a biopharmaceutical research and development company specializing in oncology. CytRx currently is focused on the clinical development of aldoxorubicin, its improved version of the widely used chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin, and DK049, a novel drug conjugate which is expected to enter clinical trials in 2016.  CytRx is also expanding its pipeline of oncology candidates at its laboratory facilities in Freiburg, Germany, through its LADR (Linker Activated Drug Release) technology platform, a discovery engine designed to leverage CytRx's expertise in albumin biology and linker technology for the development of a new class of anti-cancer therapies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including risks relating to the outcome, timing and results of CytRx's clinical testing of aldoxorubicin and preclinical testing of its LADR linker technology platform, the outcome, timing or results of CytRx's clinical testing of aldoxorubicin, the risk that any future pre-clinical or human testing of compounds based on the LADR technology platform might not show efficacy or reduced side effects of those compounds, risks related to CytRx's ability to manufacture its drug candidates in a timely fashion, cost-effectively or in commercial quantities in compliance with stringent regulatory requirements, risks related to CytRx's need for additional capital or strategic partnerships to fund its ongoing working capital needs and development efforts, including the Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical development of aldoxorubicin for SCLC and STS, respectively, and the preclinical and clinical development of compounds based on the LADR technology platform, risks related to lawsuits that have been brought against the Company and its officers and/or directors for alleged violations of the securities laws, and the risks and uncertainties described in the most recent annual and quarterly reports filed by CytRx with the Securities and Exchange Commission and current reports filed since the date of CytRx's most recent annual report. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to CytRx on the date the statements are first published. CytRx undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Company Contact:
CytRx Corporation
David J. Haen
Vice President, Business Development and Investor Relations
(310) 826-5648, ext. 304
dhaen@cytrx.com

Investor Relations:
Alexander Capital, LP
(855) 288-ALEX (2539)
cytrx@alexandercapitallp.com

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SOURCE CytRx Corporation