DUBLIN, Calif., June 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SuperGen Inc. , a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, rapid development and commercialization of therapies for solid tumors and hematological malignancies, today announced at the 13th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) in Copenhagen, Denmark, that SGI-1252, its JAK2 kinase inhibitor, prevents tumor cell proliferation in vivo (abstract #741).
In an oral presentation titled “SGI-1252: A Potent Small Molecule JAK2 Inhibitor,” Dr. Steven Warner, Manager of Discovery Biology, highlighted how SuperGen scientists used the company’s CLIMB(TM) technology to identify SGI-1252 as a possible JAK2 inhibitor. Dr. Warner presented data indicating that SGI-1252 selectively inhibits wildtype and mutant JAK2 activity in cancer cell lines, resulting in inhibition of STAT5 phosphorylation as well as a reduction in Bcl-XL expression. SGI-1252 was also shown to prevent tumor growth in mouse xenograft models. Pharmacokinetic studies indicate that SGI-1252 is orally bioavailable.
“SGI-1252 has shown potent and selective inhibition of JAK2 cellular signaling pathways that are involved in cancer cell proliferation. Moreover, as SGI-1252 does not target JAK3, we expect no negative clinical impact on patients’ immune systems,” said Dr. James Manuso, SuperGen’s President and CEO. “We are optimistic that SGI-1252 may be effective in treating leukemia, lymphoma and myeloproliferative disorders and look forward to advancing this promising candidate into the clinic.”
About SuperGen
Based in Dublin, Calif., SuperGen, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, rapid development and commercialization of therapies for solid tumors and hematological malignancies. SuperGen is developing a number of therapeutic anticancer products focused on kinase and cell signaling inhibitors and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors. For more information about SuperGen, please visit http://www.supergen.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are typically preceded by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “will,” “may,” “should,” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in these statements. Factors that might cause the company’s results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the ability to discover, develop and move target compounds into clinical development and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its most recently filed Form 10-Q and 10-K. SuperGen, Inc. undertakes no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements to conform them to actual results.
CONTACT: Timothy L. Enns, SVP, Corporate Communications & Business
Development, +1-925-560-0100, tenns@supergen.com, or Mary M. Vegh, Manager,
Investor Relations, +1-925-560-2845, mary.vegh@supergen.com, both of
SuperGen, Inc.
Web site: http://www.supergen.com/
