ATLANTA, Dec. 10 /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 the presentation of data that describe how its novel decitabine dinucleotide compound, S110, activates an important fetal hemoglobin biomarker in Baboons, confirming the products ability to activate a specific silenced gene (Abstract 571). This data is part of a series of presentations at the American Society of Hematology's 49th Annual Meeting taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
Entitled "Fetal Hemoglobin Induction in Baboons (P. Anubis) Following Administration of a Novel Decitabine Dinucleotide (S110) Compound," the oral presentation by Donald Lavelle, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois at Chicago, provides evidence that S110 increases fetal hemoglobin and decreases DNA methylation in non-human primates and cultured human erythroid progenitor cells.
"These important animal studies which incorporate a validated biomarker for hypomethylating activity support further clinical development of S110," said James Manuso, Ph.D., President and CEO of SuperGen. "We plan to introduce this next-generation hypomethylating agent into the clinic next year."
The oral presentation is scheduled to take place at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time today in rooms B216-B217 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
About S110
S110, a dinucleotide containing decitabine, is currently undergoing pre-clinical testing to support the filing of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in 2008. Preclinical studies have demonstrated greater stability of S110 over Dacogen(R) (decitabine), marketed in the United States for Myelodysplastic Syndrome by MGI PHARMA, INC. In pre-clinical models, S110 has demonstrated similar or improved activity compared to decitabine in re- expression of p15, p16, and MLH1 genes, which are silenced in cancer through methylation. S110 delivers decitabine with improved preclinical pharmacokinetics, and has a similar impact on HbF in non-human primates. The dinucleotide, S110, is highly resistant to cytidine deaminase degradation in pre-clinical studies. This can potentially lead to a longer half-life, improved bioavailability, lower dose requirement in patients, and therefore reduce toxicity.
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.
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CONTACT: Timothy L. Enns, SVP, Corporate Communications & Business
Development, +1-925-560-0100, tenns@supergen.com, or Mary M. Vegh, Manager,
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SuperGen, Inc.
Web site: http://www.supergen.com/