NEW YORK, March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has in-licensed the exclusive worldwide rights to SL-401, a clinically active oncology compound directed at a key "cancer stem cell" target. SL-401 has demonstrated single agent anti-tumor activity in a multi-center Phase I dose escalation study conducted at Duke University, the British Columbia Cancer Agency, and the Scott & White Cancer Research Institute/Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, the licensor. Thirty adult patients with relapsed, refractory, or poor risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were treated with escalating doses of SL-401 without dose limiting toxicity. Anti-tumor activity has been observed, including 1 durable complete response (CR) in a patient refractory to standard chemotherapy, 2 partial responses (PR), and 3 minor responses (MR).
SL-401 targets the interleukin-3 receptor (IL-3R) and has been shown to impair the ability of cancer stem cells to form tumors. IL-3R is over-expressed on multiple hematological cancers. Importantly, in AML, IL-3R is over-expressed on both leukemia blasts as well as leukemia cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells comprise a unique subpopulation of neoplastic cells within tumors that is highly malignant and resistant to standard treatment. Cancer stem cells are believed to be a major contributor to treatment failure, relapse, and death from malignancy.
Dr. David Rizzieri of Duke University Medical Center, a leader in the field of hematological cancers and investigator on the Phase I trial, commented, "SL-401 is an exciting new compound with a novel mechanism of action and clear signs of clinical activity. SL-401 constitutes the first concerted clinical effort to target leukemia stem cells. We look forward to completing the Phase I study and to working closely with Stemline to advance SL-401 into future trials."
"This in-licensing represents a significant milestone for the company and adds to our portfolio of compounds directed at IL-3R and other important cancer stem cell targets," said Ivan Bergstein, M.D., CEO of Stemline Therapeutics. He added, "With clinical signs of activity at tolerable doses, including a complete responder, we are gearing up to advance SL-401 into Phase II trials."
About Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.:
Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel oncology compounds directed to "cancer stem cell" targets. Stemline's lead compound, SL-401, targets the interleukin-3 receptor present on multiple hematological cancers including leukemia and leukemia cancer stem cells. SL-401 has demonstrated single agent anti-tumor activity at tolerable doses in a multi-center Phase I human trial. Behind its lead, Stemline is developing a pipeline of small molecule and biologic compounds directed at additional cancer stem cell targets of a variety of solid and hematological cancers. Stemline has also built a robust discovery platform called "StemScreen(R)" which the Company has utilized to identify multiple compounds that target and impair cancer stem cells. For more information, please visit the Company's updated website at http://www.stemline.com.
Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.CONTACT: Ivan Bergstein of Stemline Therapeutics, Inc., +1-212-831-1111,info@stemline.com
Web site: http://www.stemline.com//
