HAYWARD, Calif., May 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kosan Biosciences Incorporated today announced that data will be presented on the Company's clinical pipeline, including Hsp90 inhibitors tanespimycin and alvespimycin, and epothilone KOS-1584, at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), being held at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL, June 1-5, 2007.
Poster presentations on Kosan's programs are as follows. Date Abst Title Session/Location Author No. Poster Number Saturday 1115 Phase 1 trial of Breast Cancer Kathy Miller, MD 6/2 alvespimycin General Poster 2:00-6:00 (KOS-1022; 17-DMAG) S Hall A2 and trastuzumab Number P2 Sunday 8558 Phase 2 trial of Melanoma Richard Kefford, MD 6/3 tanespimycin General Poster 2:00-6:00 (KOS-953), S Hall A2 a heat shock Number R3 protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor in patients with metastatic melanoma Saturday 3532 Tanespimycin (T)+ Developmental Paul Richardson, MD 6/2 Bortezomib (BZ) Therapeutics 2:00-6:00; in multiple myeloma Poster 5:00-6:00 (MM): pharmacology, Presentation: safety and activity Room S102a, on relapsed/ Number 3; refractory Discussion: Room (rel/ref) S100a patients Sunday 2571 Phase 1 trial Developmental Alison Stopek, MD 6/3 of KOS-1584 Therapeutics 8:00-12:00 (a novel epothilone) General Poster using two weekly S Hall A2 dosing schedules Number C13 About Kosan
Kosan Biosciences is a biotechnology company advancing two new classes of anticancer agents through clinical development -- Hsp90 (heat shock protein 90) inhibitors and epothilones. Kosan is leveraging its proprietary discovery platform to generate a pipeline of potentially significant product candidates, primarily in the area of oncology.
Hsp90 inhibitors have a novel mechanism of action targeting multiple pathways involved in cancer cell growth and survival. Kosan's proprietary formulation of tanespimycin (KOS-953) is currently in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, primarily for multiple myeloma in combination with Velcade(R) (bortezomib) and HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer in combination with Herceptin(R) (trastuzumab). In addition, intravenous and oral formulations of Kosan's second-generation Hsp90 inhibitor, alvespimycin (KOS-1022), are being evaluated in Phase 1 clinical trials.
Epothilones inhibit cell division with a mechanism of action similar to taxanes, one of the most successful classes of anti-tumor agents. KOS-1584 is in Phase 1 clinical trials in patients with solid tumors. Kosan's epothilone program is partnered with Roche through a global development and commercialization agreement.
For additional information on Kosan Biosciences, please visit the company's website at http://www.kosan.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements regarding anticipated presentations of data relating to Kosan's product candidates. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the results of Kosan to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, the risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 and other periodic filings with the SEC. Kosan does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.
Velcade(R) (bortezomib) is a registered trademark of Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Herceptin(R) (trastuzumab) is a registered trademark of Genentech, Inc.
Kosan Biosciences IncorporatedCONTACT: Jane Green, VP, Corporate Communications of Kosan,+1-510-731-5335, +1-415-652-4819, green@kosan.com
Web site: http://www.kosan.com/
