DUBLIN, Calif., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SuperGen Inc. , a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, rapid development and commercialization of therapies for solid tumors and hematological malignancies, today announced during an oral presentation at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology’s (ASTRO) 49th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles that MP470, its clinical-stage multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is cytotoxic to glioblastoma multiforme cell lines (Abstract No. 178). Activity was also demonstrated in vivo in a glioblastoma multiforme xenograft model. Evidence presented here suggests that MP470 inhibits DNA damage repair through suppression of a critical DNA repair protein, Rad51. Dr. James Welsh of the University of Arizona, who conducted these pre-clinical studies, also revealed that the pre-clinical activity of MP470 against glioblastoma multiforme cells is synergistic with radiation.
Glioblastoma multiforme is often resistant to cytotoxic therapies and radiation, due to increased DNA repair and the inhibition of programmed cell death. Signaling pathways downstream of tyrosine kinases such as PDGFR and c- Met, are thought to be a key player in this resistance. Scientists at SuperGen found that MP470 inhibits these kinases and data presented today indicate that MP470 is active in inducing cell death in glioblastoma multiforme cell lines. Additionally, data suggest that MP470 induces sensitization to radiation through suppression of Rad51, indicating that it might not only inhibit tumor growth, but that it could also potentially enhance current therapies.
A copy of the poster presentation will be available in the pipeline section of SuperGen’s Web site www.supergen.com.
“There is an urgent need for improved therapies for glioblastoma multiforme,” said Dr. Greg Berk, Chief Medical Officer of SuperGen. “Our development strategy in areas of unmet need begins with this type of pre- clinical work that targets the biology of cancer and the weaknesses of current therapies. These studies support further clinical development of MP470 in glioblastoma multiforme.”
MP470 is currently being evaluated in a phase 1 single agent clinical trial at two sites and will begin a phase 1b combination clinical trial with multiple chemotherapy regimens later this year.
About Glioblastoma Multiforme
Glioblastoma Multiforme the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor in adults. Brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in males ages 20-39 and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women ages 20-39. Surgery is generally the first line of treatment, followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy, either individually or in combination. Although primary treatment is often successful in temporarily stopping the progression of the tumor, glioblastoma multiforme almost always recur and survival rates remain low. Thus the disease remains a significant unmet clinical need in oncology.
About SuperGen
Based in Dublin, Calif., SuperGen Inc. is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, rapid development and commercialization of therapies for solid tumors and hematological malignancies. SuperGen is developing a number of therapeutic anticancer products focused on kinase and cell signaling inhibitors and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors. For more information about SuperGen, please visit http://www.supergen.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are typically preceded by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “will,” “may,” “should,” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in these statements. Factors that might cause the company’s results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the ability to discover, develop and move target compounds into clinical development and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its most recently filed Form 10-Q and 10-K. SuperGen, Inc. undertakes no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements to conform them to actual results.
Contacts
tenns@supergen.commary.vegh@supergen.com
CONTACT: Timothy L. Enns, SVP, Corporate Communications & Business
Development, +1-925-560-0100, tenns@supergen.com; or Mary M. Vegh, Manager,
Investor Relations, +1-925-560-2845, mary.vegh@supergen.com, both of
SuperGen, Inc.
Web site: http://www.supergen.com/
