BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Genta Incorporated announced that several abstracts related to the Company’s clinical programs will be featured at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in Atlanta, GA during December 7-11, 2007. Programs involving Genasense(R) (oblimersen sodium) Injection, Genta’s lead anticancer compound, and G4544, a new oral drug for bone diseases, were released in abstracts published in the meeting proceedings, as follows:
About Genasense
Genasense inhibits production of Bcl-2, a protein made by cancer cells that is thought to block chemotherapy-induced apoptosis (programmed cell death). By reducing the amount of Bcl-2 in cancer cells, Genasense may enhance the effectiveness of current anticancer treatment. Genta is pursuing a broad clinical development program with Genasense evaluating its potential to treat various forms of cancer.
About G4544
G4544 contains the active ingredient in Genta’s marketed compound, Ganite(R). Experimental work has established that low doses of Ganite directly inhibit calcium release from bone, principally by decreasing bone resorption and possibly by also stimulating bone formation. In patients with cancer-related hypercalcemia who were resistant to hydration, randomized double-blind trials have been conducted with Ganite compared with calcitonin and with two bisphosphonates (etidronate [Didronel(R); Proctor and Gamble] and pamidronate [Aredia(R); Novartis, Inc.]).
G4544 was developed to enable extended administration of the active ingredient in Ganite, which may greatly improve patient convenience and avoid the current need for intravenous pumps or hospitalization. The initial focus of clinical studies with G4544 will be to evaluate bioequivalence with the intravenous product, potentially enabling rapid regulatory approval of the oral formulation. Genta holds or has exclusively licensed the intellectual property related to G4544.
About Genta
Genta Incorporated is a biopharmaceutical company with a diversified product portfolio that is focused on delivering innovative products for the treatment of patients with cancer. Two major programs anchor the Company’s research platform: DNA/RNA-based Medicines and Small Molecules. Genasense(R) (oblimersen sodium) Injection is the Company’s lead compound from its DNA/RNA Medicines program. Genta is currently recruiting patients to the AGENDA Trial, a global Phase 3 trial of Genasense in patients with advanced melanoma. The leading drug in Genta’s Small Molecule program is Ganite(R) (gallium nitrate injection), which the Company is exclusively marketing in the U.S. for treatment of symptomatic patients with cancer related hypercalcemia that is resistant to hydration. The Company has developed G4544, an oral formulation of the active ingredient in Ganite, that has recently entered clinical trials as a potential treatment for diseases associated with accelerated bone loss. Ganite(R) and Genasense(R) are available on a “named-patient” basis in countries outside the United States. For more information about Genta, please visit our website at: www.genta.com.
Safe Harbor
This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to business conducted by Genta Incorporated. By their nature, forward-looking statements and forecasts involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Forward- looking statements include, without limitation, statements about:
The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially. For a discussion of those risks and uncertainties, please see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2006 and its most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
info@genta.com
CONTACT: Nichol Harber, Genta Investor Relations, info@genta.com; or Brian
Korb of The Trout Group, +1-908-286-3980
Web site: http://www.genta.com/
