SAN DIEGO, Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today details of two presentations from the Company’s BCR-ABL program for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) at the upcoming American Society of Hematology’s 49th Annual Meeting and Exposition. The conference is being held December 8th - 11th, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia.
About the SGX BCR-ABL Program
SGX393 is an internally developed, orally-bioavailable, small molecule inhibitor of the abnormal BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase, which results from a characteristic chromosome abnormality (also known as the Philadelphia chromosome) that causes chronic myelogenous leukemia or CML, a cancer of the bone marrow. SGX393 has shown both potent in vitro blockade of the activity of BCR-ABL and in vivo activity against human leukemic cells that depend on BCR-ABL for their uncontrolled growth and proliferation. In addition, SGX393 has shown potent activity against a broad spectrum of mutant forms of BCR-ABL that render this cancer target resistant to imatinib (Gleevec (R)), the current standard of care for CML. One of the key drug resistant forms of BCR-ABL inhibited by SGX393 is the T315I mutation, which is also resistant to the two second-generation BCR-ABL inhibitors, nilotinib (Tasigna (R)) and dasatinib (Sprycel (R)). In addition, SGX is engaged in a strategic collaboration with Novartis that aims to discover and develop next generation BCR-ABL inhibitors for treatment of newly-diagnosed CML patients.
About SGX Pharmaceuticals
SGX Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative cancer therapeutics. The SGX oncology pipeline includes drug candidates from its FAST(TM) drug discovery platform, such as next generation BCR-ABL inhibitors being developed by SGX and in partnership with Novartis and cMET tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including SGX523, and JAK2 inhibitors. More information on the pipeline and drug discovery platform can be found at http://www.sgxpharma.com and in the Company’s various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Forward-looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature are forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, research and development programs, the potential of SGX’s BCR-ABL inhibitors as treatments for chronic myelogenous leukemia and the ability to discover, develop and commercialize cancer therapeutics. These statements are only predictions based on current information and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in any of such statements due to various factors, including the risks and uncertainties inherent in drug discovery, development and commercialization. The results of early preclinical studies or clinical trials may not be predictive of future results, and the Company cannot provide any assurances that any of its compounds or development candidates will have favorable results in preclinical studies or future clinical trials. For a discussion of these and other factors, please refer to the risk factors described in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, as well as other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and SGX undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
CONTACT: Todd Myers, Chief Financial Officer of SGX Pharmaceuticals,
+1-858-558-4850; or Jason Spark, Media & Investor Relations of Porter
Novelli Life Sciences, +1-619-849-6005, for SGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Web site: http://www.sgxpharma.com/
