Tokai Pharmaceuticals Announces Preclinical Results From The University of Maryland Showing Galeterone And Analogs Inhibit Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TKAI), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for prostate cancer and other hormonally-driven diseases, today announced that scientists in the laboratory of Vincent Njar, PhD, at the University of Maryland School of Medicine presented preclinical data showing that galeterone and novel analogs of galeterone inhibited growth, survival and migration of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells.

“Galeterone and Its Novel Analogs Induce Profound Anti-Cancer Activities in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines”

These data were presented in a poster presentation titled, “Galeterone and Its Novel Analogs Induce Profound Anti-Cancer Activities in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines,” abstract number 1764, at the 2015 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“We are excited to see the activity of galeterone and its novel analogs in pancreatic cancer cells,” stated Jodie Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tokai Pharmaceuticals. “Based on these data we believe galeterone and its novel analogs may have activity in this tumor type where there is a significant need for new therapies. These preclinical results also support the potential of galeterone beyond its lead indication in prostate cancer and further demonstrate the potential of the ARDA platform.”

Galeterone and its novel analogs were found to reduce PDAC cell proliferation, cell viability, and colony formation ability using both gemcitabine-naïve and gemcitabine-resistant cell lines and also acted synergistically with gemcitabine to further enhance anti-proliferative effects. Additional in vitro assays demonstrated that galeterone and its analogs reduced tumor cell migration, invasion and reduced MMP9 secretion. At a molecular level, galeterone modulated oncotargets and translational machinery, including the Mink1/2-eIF4E axis.

About Tokai Pharmaceuticals

Tokai Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for prostate cancer and other hormonally-driven diseases. The company’s lead drug candidate, galeterone, is a highly selective, multi-targeted, oral small molecule drug candidate being developed for the treatment of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer. The Company’s ARDA drug discovery program is focused on the identification and evaluation of compounds that are designed to disrupt androgen receptor signaling through enhanced androgen receptor degradation and are targeted to patients with androgen receptor signaling diseases, including prostate cancer. For more information on the company and galeterone, please visit www.tokaipharma.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including statements about the Company’s strategy, future operations, intellectual property, and other statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: whether the Company’s cash resources will be sufficient to fund the Company’s continuing operations for the period anticipated; whether data from preclinical studies such as the data referred to above or early clinical trials will be indicative of the data that will be obtained from future clinical trials; whether galeterone will advance through the clinical trial process on the anticipated timeline; whether a companion diagnostic can be developed successfully and on a timely basis; whether the results of ARMOR3-SV will warrant submission for regulatory approval of galeterone and whether such submission will receive approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies; whether, if galeterone obtains such approval, it will be successfully distributed and marketed; and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of April 20, 2015. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause the Company’s views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to April 20, 2015.