SAN DIEGO, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Nereus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pioneer in the use of marine microbial sources for the discovery and development of cancer therapeutics, today announced that one of its two lead drug candidates, NPI-0052, will be featured as a Top Ten Unpartnered Program at Windhover Information’s 2nd Annual Therapeutic Area Partnerships conference taking place October 24-26, 2007 in Philadelphia, PA. Charles White, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer of Nereus, will provide an overview of the compound’s mechanism, the ongoing Phase I clinical program, relative advantages identified in preclinical studies, and potential for broad adoption across solid tumors and hematological malignancies.
Nereus’ novel, small molecule proteasome inhibitor NPI-0052 is in three Phase I trials for solid tumors, lymphomas, leukemias and multiple myeloma. Preclinical studies indicate that this next generation compound may be superior to Velcade(R), with broader target inhibition, faster onset and longer duration of action, higher potency, oral and intravenous availability, and activity against myeloma cells resistant to Velcade(R) (bortezomib, Millennium), Thalomid(R) (thalidomide, Celgene Corporation), Revlimid(R) (lenalidomide, Celgene Corporation) and steroid therapy. NPI-0052 was derived from a marine-obligate gram-positive actinomycete (Salinispora tropica).
NPI-0052 is being tested at world-class cancer centers in three Phase I clinical trials with sites in the U.S., Australia and Europe. Clinical trial sites include the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Ohio State University, Roswell Park Cancer Institute and University of Chicago.
“Nereus’ NPI-0052 is a highly differentiated product candidate that continues to attract interest because of the early positive signals we’ve seen in multiple cancer indications. We’re pleased the NPI-0052 program will be featured at the Windhover conference, where we are eager to broaden its exposure to an international audience seeking promising partnering opportunities,” said Kobi M. Sethna, President and CEO of Nereus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Windhover Information’s 2nd Annual Therapeutic Area Partnerships is one of the industry’s premier partnering meetings for pharmaceutical and biotech companies seeking partnerships in the top therapeutic areas: oncology, cardiovascular, metabolic and neurosciences. Decision-makers focusing on these therapeutic categories meet to assess the potential for strategic alliances between their companies. The conference includes company presentations, one-on-one meetings and networking functions. For information, visit http://www.tapartnerships.com.
About Nereus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nereus Pharmaceuticals pursues novel sources of chemical diversity to discover and develop new therapeutics. Using its unmatched expertise in marine microbiology to identify unique biologically active compounds, the Company has two oncology drug candidates in Phase I clinical trials. NPI-2358, a tumor vascular disrupting agent, is being evaluated in patients with solid tumors and lymphomas, and the proteasome inhibitor NPI-0052 is being developed in patients with solid tumors, lymphomas, leukemias and multiple myeloma. The Company’s discovery portfolio also includes potential drug candidates for cancer, infectious diseases and inflammation. For more information, visit http://www.nereuspharm.com.
Nereus Pharmaceuticals is a registered trademark of Nereus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All other product and company names may be registered trademark or trademarks of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Kobi M. Sethna, President & CEO of Nereus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
+1-858-587-4093, ksethna@nereuspharm.com; or Pam Lord of Porter Novelli
Life Sciences, +1-619-849-6003, plord@pnlifesciences.com, for Nereus
Web site: http://www.nereuspharm.com/
