BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J., April 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Genta Incorporated announced that several scientific abstracts related to Genasense(R) (oblimersen sodium) Injection, the Company's lead anticancer compound, were featured at the 97th annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) that met in Washington, D.C. from April 1-5, 2006. The abstracts included the following:
-- # 2163: Irradiation increases uptake of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides in human prostate cancer cells. In this preclinical study, investigators demonstrated the ability of Genasense to sensitize radiation-resistant prostate tumors. Genasense plus radiation reduced tumor volume more than 3-fold compared with either radiation or Genasense used alone, or with a control antisense molecule plus radiation. Using fluorescently labeled drug, the use of radiation also appeared to significantly increase the uptake of Genasense within tumor cells. -- # 2127: Bcl-2 and GSH depletion sensitize metastatic B16 melanoma to combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy in vivo. This preclinical study employed Genasense to down-regulate Bcl-2, along with a method to reduce glutathione as another possible means of increasing the effectiveness of anticancer therapy. With combined depletion of Bcl-2 and glutathione, tumor size was reduced to < 1% compared with controls in a model of metastatic melanoma tested using chemotherapy with or without radiation. -- # 1308: Evaluation of G3139 treatment effects on peripheral blood lymphocyte numbers and function. In this preliminary analysis, investigators evaluated the effects of Genasense on white blood cell number and function. Blood samples were collected from 12 patients who had been treated with Genasense for 7 days. Genasense appeared to reduce the number of certain lymphocyte subsets, as well as possibly increasing the activation of so-called "natural killer" cells. The authors suggested that these additional effects may partly contribute to the Genasense mechanism of action.
Each of these abstracts can be viewed on the AACR website at: http://www.aacr.org
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 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. The Company's research platform is anchored by two major programs that center on oligonucleotides (RNA- and DNA-based medicines) and small molecules. Genasense(R) (oblimersen sodium) Injection is the Company's lead compound from its oligonucleotide program. The Company has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the use of Genasense plus fludarabine and cyclophosphamide for treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Genta has also completed a Marketing Authorization Application to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for use of Genasense plus dacarbazine for treatment of 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. For more information about Genta, please visit our website at: http://www.genta.com .
This press release contains 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. 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/Form 10-K for 2005.
Genta IncorporatedCONTACT: Investor Relations, TS Communications Group, LLC, info@genta.com,+1-914-921-5900; Media Relations, Greg Tiberend, Richard LewisCommunications, Inc., +1-212-827-0020, both for Genta Incorporated
