SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 9, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the company will present data on each of its clinical-stage anticancer compounds at the upcoming Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) being held April 12-16 in San Diego, CA. Sunesis has built a portfolio of product candidates in oncology focused on novel pathways and targets, including inhibition of the cell cycle and survival signaling.
Data from non-clinical studies of SNS-595, SNS-032 and SNS-314 will be presented in five posters and one oral presentation during the AACR Meeting. New insights on the mechanism of action and anticancer activity of SNS-595, Sunesis’ lead compound, will be featured on Monday, April 14, 2008. SNS-595 is a novel naphthyridine analog structurally related to quinolones, a class of compounds which has not been used previously for the treatment of cancer. SNS-595 both selectively intercalates DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II, resulting in replication-dependent DNA damage, irreversible G2 arrest and rapid apoptosis. A Phase 2 single agent clinical trial of SNS-595 in ovarian cancer and a Phase 1b combination clinical trial with cytarabine in relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia are both ongoing.
Suzanne Trudel, MSc, M.D., Assistant Professor, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, will provide an oral presentation on SNS-032’s preclinical activity in multiple myeloma as part of a minisymposium on Tuesday, April 15, 2008. In addition, translational research data detailing the relationship between SNS-032’s mechanism and its activity in certain types of cancer will be presented in a poster. SNS-032, a potent and selective inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases 2, 7 and 9, is being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia or multiple myeloma.
Preclinical data providing new details on SNS-314’s anti-tumor activity will be presented Wednesday, April 16, 2008. SNS-314, a potent and selective pan-Aurora kinase inhibitor, is being studied in a Phase 1 dose-escalating clinical trial in patients with advanced solid tumors.
About Sunesis Pharmaceuticals
Sunesis is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel small molecule therapeutics for oncology and other serious diseases. Sunesis has built a broad product candidate portfolio through internal discovery and in-licensing of novel cancer therapeutics. Sunesis is advancing its product candidates through in-house research and development efforts and strategic collaborations with leading pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies. For additional information on Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, please visit http://www.sunesis.com.
SUNESIS and the logo are trademarks of Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CONTACT: Investors, Eric Bjerkholt, SVP, Corp. Development & Finance of
Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-650-266-3717; or Media, Karen L. Bergman,
+1-650-575-1509, or Michelle Corral, +1-415-794-8662, both of BCC Partners,
for Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Web site: http://www.sunesis.com/
