CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cerulean Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq:CERU), a leader in Dynamic Tumor Targeting™, today announced the publication of a manuscript in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, describing preclinical data that demonstrate CRLX101, Cerulean’s lead proprietary investigational drug, targets breast cancer stem cells and impedes resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy in breast cancer mouse models.
“The preclinical data presented in this manuscript suggest that further study is warranted to assess whether the efficacy of anti-angiogenic drugs can be improved through combination with CRLX101, by reducing drug resistance with the combined mechanisms of durable HIF-1a inhibition and anti-angiogenesis”
The results of the study demonstrate that CRLX101, a dual topoisomerase-1 and HIF-1a inhibitor, blocks the HIF-1a mediated increase in cancer stem cells induced by Avastin® (bevacizumab) in a triple-negative breast cancer xenograft mouse model. The up-regulation of HIF-1a by Avastin is believed to be a mechanism of resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy. The combined effects of CRLX101 plus Avastin on cancer stem cells and bulk tumor cells resulted in significant tumor shrinkage and delayed recurrence in this model. The manuscript posits that these data provide a compelling rationale for combining CRLX101 with angiogenic agents in patients with cancer where HIF-1a mediated increases in cancer stem cells may play a role in chemoresistance. The article, “CRLX101, an investigational camptothecin-containing nanoparticle-drug conjugate, targets cancer stem cells and impedes resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy in mouse models of breast cancer” by Conley, et al, was published in the April 2015 issue of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
“The preclinical data presented in this manuscript suggest that further study is warranted to assess whether the efficacy of anti-angiogenic drugs can be improved through combination with CRLX101, by reducing drug resistance with the combined mechanisms of durable HIF-1a inhibition and anti-angiogenesis,” stated Max S. Wicha, M.D., Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Director, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and author of the paper. “There is emerging evidence that the induction of hypoxia and up-regulation of HIF-1a is one mechanism contributing to the development of resistance to angiogenic therapies. HIF-1a is believed to be a master regulator of the cellular response to hypoxia, and regulates many cancer cell survival pathways. These key pathways include angiogenesis and cancer stem cells, which are the small number of cells within a tumor with the capacity to metastasize and regenerate tumors.”
About CRLX101
CRLX101 is a dynamically tumor-targeted nanoparticle-drug conjugate (NDC) designed to concentrate in tumors and slowly release its anti-cancer payload, camptothecin, inside tumor cells. CRLX101 inhibits topoisomerase 1 (topo 1), which is involved in cellular replication, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a), which research suggests is a master regulator of cancer cell survival mechanisms thought to promote drug and radiation resistance. CRLX101 has shown activity in four different tumor types, both as monotherapy and in combination with other cancer treatments. CRLX101 is currently in Phase 2 clinical development and has been dosed in more than 250 patients.
About CRLX301
CRLX301 is a dynamically tumor-targeted NDC designed to concentrate in tumors and slowly release its anti-cancer payload, docetaxel, inside tumor cells. In preclinical studies, CRLX301 delivers up to 10 times more docetaxel into tumors, compared to an equivalent milligram dose of commercially available docetaxel and was superior to docetaxel in seven of seven animal models, with a statistically significant survival benefit seen in five of those seven models. In addition, preclinical data show that CRLX301 had lower toxicity than has been reported with docetaxel in similar preclinical studies. CRLX301 is currently in Phase 1 clinical development.
About Cerulean Pharma
The Cerulean team is committed to improving treatment for people living with cancer. We apply our Dynamic Tumor Targeting Platform to create a portfolio of NDCs designed to selectively attack tumor cells, reduce toxicity by sparing the body’s normal cells, and enable therapeutic combinations. Our first platform-generated candidate, CRLX101, is in multiple clinical trials in combination with other cancer treatments, all of which aim to unlock the power of combination therapy. Our second platform-generated candidate, CRLX301, is in a Phase 1/2a clinical trial. For more information, please visit www.ceruleanrx.com.
About Cerulean’s Dynamic Tumor Targeting™ Platform
Cerulean’s Dynamic Tumor Targeting Platform creates NDCs that are designed to provide safer and more effective cancer treatments. We believe our NDCs concentrate their anti-cancer payloads inside tumors while sparing normal tissue because they are small enough to pass through the “leaky” vasculature present in tumors but are too large to pass through the wall of healthy blood vessels. Once inside tumors, our NDCs enter tumor cells where they slowly release anti-cancer payloads from within the tumor cells.
Cautionary Note on Forward Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about our future expectations, plans and prospects, including statements about the clinical development of our product candidates, statements about our estimated research and development expenses and sufficiency of cash to fund specified use of cash and other statements containing the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hypothesize,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “would,” 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: the uncertainties inherent in the initiation of clinical trials, availability and timing of data from ongoing and future clinical trials and the results of such trials, whether preliminary results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of that trial or whether results of early clinical trials will be indicative of the results of later clinical trials, expectations for regulatory approvals, availability of funding sufficient for our foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19. 2015 and in other filings that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. We specifically disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements included in this press release.
Avastin® is a trademark of Genentech, Inc.
Cerulean Pharma Inc.
Aurora Krause, 617-551-9627
Corporate Communications
ir@ceruleanrx.com
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