SAN ANTONIO, March 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- GenSpera Inc. (OTCQB: GNSZ) announced today that Craig Dionne, Ph.D., chief executive officer at GenSpera, will present at the 12th Annual BIO Asia International Conference on Tuesday, March 24 at 3:15 p.m. JST at the Grand Hyatt in Tokyo, Japan. The presentation will offer an overview of the latest scientific developments of GenSpera’s lead investigational agent mipsagargin and the applicability of its innovative mechanism of action in a broad array of oncology treatments.
The 12th Annual BIO Asia International Conference, co-hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), BioCentury and the Japan Bioindustry Association (JBA), brings together the global biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry to explore licensing and research collaborations in the current Asia-Pacific business and policy environments. GenSpera is exploring partnership opportunities in Asia to assist in further development of mipsagargin as a treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
“This conference is a key opportunity for GenSpera to build on its partner connections in one of our primary markets and evaluate multiple business opportunities to continue our positive progress with mipsagargin,” said Dionne. “Our approach of working on global business fronts while continuing systematic and scientifically sound clinical development will help bring new treatment options to patients quickly and efficiently.”
GenSpera’s approach to development for mipsagargin sets it apart among agents currently being studied for the treatment of HCC, the most common cancer diagnosis in Southeast Asia. GenSpera’s BIO Asia presentation follows the company’s presentation of positive Phase II study results for mipsagargin in treating HCC at the 2015 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in San Francisco, Calif. About half of the liver cancer cases in the world occur in China where more than 350,000 people per year die from HCC. Globally, rates of HCC are on the rise, making it one of the ten most common cancers with more than 750,000 diagnosed each year.
“Our Phase II study validated proof of concept for our platform technology and cleared the way for GenSpera to continue our work,” continued Dionne. “With our patents on the platform in place, we are well positioned to build on our approach of strategic partnerships and expand our work in Asia which has high demand for new targeted HCC treatments.”
Mipsagargin’s mechanism of action works by targeting the enzyme prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is highly expressed in cancer tumor vasculature and in prostate cancer cells. The Phase II study results presented in San Francisco demonstrated that the prodrug effectively stabilizes progression of HCC by reducing blood flow within tumors while not affecting blood flow within normal tissues. The study also showed indications that patients had improved quality of life and fewer side effects than typically seen in cancer treatment. GenSpera is undertaking multiple trials in different indications in order to show that mipsagargin is effective across a broad array of cancer tumor types.
About GenSpera
GenSpera Inc. is a San Antonio-based biotech company that unlocks conventional thinking to conceive, design, and develop cancer therapies. GenSpera’s technology platform combines a powerful, plant-derived cytotoxin (thapsigargin) with a patented prodrug delivery system that provides for targeted release of drug candidates within tumors. GenSpera’s lead drug candidate, mipsagargin, was granted Orphan Drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2013 for evaluation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer).
For additional information on GenSpera, visit www.genspera.com and connect on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Google+.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information
This communication may contain forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that statements in this document regarding potential applications of GenSpera’s technologies or the future prospects of the company constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, uncertainty of clinical trial results or regulatory approvals or clearances, need for future capital, dependence upon collaborators and maintenance of our intellectual property rights and the acceptance of GenSpera’s proposed therapies by the health community. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties will be detailed from time to time in GenSpera’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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SOURCE GenSpera, Inc.
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