– Clinical Trial Data Could Be Available in Second Half of 2012 –
– Development of Tamibarotene for Potential Multibillion Dollar Market is Major Priority for CytRx –
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CytRx Corporation (Nasdaq:CYTR), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in oncology, has expanded enrollment to 15 clinical sites in its Phase 2b clinical trial with tamibarotene in combination with chemotherapeutical agents for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The large number of sites is expected to accelerate recruitment, and full enrollment of the approximately 140 patients is now anticipated in 12 months.
“We have opened enrollment in 15 clinical sites in the U.S. and Mexico for our tamibarotene clinical trial in 1st line NSCLC to expedite recruitment for an indication that could represent a blockbuster opportunity,” said CytRx CEO Steven A. Kriegsman. “We expect these additional sites will accelerate enrollment, which means we could have data from this Phase 2b clinical trial by the end of 2012. What makes NSCLC so compelling is that it is responsible for more deaths than breast, prostate and ovarian cancers combined.”
Daniel Levitt, MD, Ph.D., CytRx’s Chief Medical Officer, said, “Tamibarotene is 10 times more potent than all trans retinoic acid (ATRA), while simultaneously showing properties that suggest it may lead to fewer adverse effects than ATRA. Recent published clinical data demonstrated that ATRA in combination with chemotherapeutical agents was statistically significant as a treatment for advanced NSCLC, which may open the door for tamibartotene based on its greater potency and lower side effect profile than ATRA.”
In December 2010, CytRx initiated the Phase 2b clinical trial in patients with advanced NSCLC at a single clinical site. In this randomized clinical trial, patients with advanced NSCLC are treated with paclitaxel plus carboplatin and either tamibarotene or placebo. The primary objective of this trial is to determine the objective response rate (complete and partial responses) and progression-free survival. Secondarily, the trial will evaluate overall survival, quality-of-life and examine the pharmacokinetics of tamibarotene in this population, among other measures.
A clinical trial conducted by Arrieta et al. and published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Oncology (June 17, 2010) compared ATRA added to a regimen of paclitaxel plus cisplatin to a regimen of paclitaxel plus cisplatin alone as a treatment for patients with advanced NSCLC. The group administered ATRA plus the chemotherapeutical agents showed improved response rates of 55.8% versus 25.4%, and increased progression-free survival of 8.9 months versus 6.0 months. Median overall survival was increased from 9.5 months to 23.5 months when ATRA was added to the above chemotherapy regimen, representing a 14-month median extension of life.
Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
More than 222,000 new cases of lung cancer will occur in the U.S. this year and more than 1.5 million worldwide. Deaths due to lung cancer account for the majority of cancer-related deaths (157,000 in the U.S., 1.4 million worldwide) and the five-year survival ranges between 8-15%. NSCLC accounts for 85-90% of all lung cancers, with subsets adenocarcinoma representing 35-40%, squamous cell carcinoma accounting for 25-30% and large cell carcinoma accounting for 10-15% of lung cancers.
About Tamibarotene
Tamibarotene is an orally available, rationally designed, synthetic retinoid compound. CytRx holds the North American and European rights to certain tamibarotene intellectual property for the treatment of NSCLC and APL, and retains an option to expand its licenses for the use of tamibarotene in other fields in oncology.
About CytRx Corporation
CytRx Corporation is a biopharmaceutical research and development oncology company engaged in the development of high-value human therapeutics. The CytRx oncology pipeline includes three programs in clinical development for cancer indications: bafetinib, tamibarotene and INNO-206. The Company is evaluating bafetinib in the ENABLE Phase 2 clinical trial in high-risk B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), a pharmacokinetic clinical trial in brain cancer and the PROACT Phase 2 clinical trial in advanced prostate cancer. With its tumor-targeting pro-drug candidate INNO-206, CytRx is conducting a safety trial with plans to initiate Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical trials as a treatment for soft tissue sarcomas and pancreatic cancer. CytRx's pipeline also includes tamibarotene, which it is testing in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and which is in a registration clinical trial as a treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). For more information on the Company, visit http://www.cytrx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including risks or uncertainties related to the outcome, timing and results of CytRx's planned Phase 2b clinical trial for tamibarotene as a treatment for NSCLC, uncertainties regarding regulatory approvals for current and future clinical testing of tamibarotene and the scope of the clinical testing that may eventually be required by regulatory authorities for tamibarotene, the significant time and expense that will be incurred in developing any of the potential commercial applications for tamibarotene, including for NSCLC, the risk that any future human testing of tamibarotene for NSCLC might not produce results similar to those seen with ATRA, risks related to CytRx's ability to manufacture its drug candidates, including tamibarotene, in a timely fashion, cost-effectively or in commercial quantities in compliance with stringent regulatory requirements, risks related to CytRx's need for additional capital or strategic partnerships to fund its ongoing working capital needs and development efforts, including any future clinical development of tamibarotene, and the risks and uncertainties described in the most recent annual and quarterly reports filed by CytRx with the Securities and Exchange Commission and current reports filed since the date of CytRx's most recent annual report. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to CytRx on the date the statements are first published. CytRx undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT:
Investor Relations
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Thomas Wagner
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[email protected]
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INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Biotechnology Clinical Trials Oncology Pharmaceutical Research Science
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