Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Announces Publication of New Preclinical Research Data for Novel Anticancer Compounds

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex: RNN), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing and commercializing potential best in class oncology and CNS therapeutics, today announced the publication of a research article in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry [18:7966-7974, 2010] on the anticancer activity of quinoxalinyl-piperazine compounds.

The study demonstrates that the quinoxalinyl-piperazine compounds strongly inhibit the growth of human cancer cells through programmed cell death (apoptosis), including paclitaxel (Taxol®) resistant HCT-15 human colorectal cancer cells. Those compounds also display the synergistic cytotoxic effect when combined with several known cancer drugs such as paclitaxel, doxorubicin, cisplatin, gemcitabine or 5-fluorouracil in cancer cells.

For example, using HCT116 and paclitaxel resistant HCT-15 cancer cells, a compound showed the same potent inhibitory effect in both cancer cells. But the compound had an even stronger effect in drug resistant HCT-15 cells compared to the anticancer activity of paclitaxel, decreasing cancer growth by 70-fold in paclitaxel resistant HCT-15 cells. This result implies that the compound may control and overcome drug resistance.

“The quinoxalinyl-piperazine compounds are a new chemical entity that exhibits potent anticancer properties,” said Rick Soni, President of Rexahn, “In addition, the current study clearly demonstrates that these compounds significantly inhibited growth of both human cancer cells and drug-resistant cancer cells and have potential use in combination therapy with other clinically approved anticancer drugs to provide stronger, less toxic therapies.”

About Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing first in class and market leading therapeutics for cancer, CNS disorders, sexual dysfunction and other unmet medical needs. Rexahn currently has three drug candidates in Phase II clinical trials, Archexin®, Serdaxin®, and Zoraxel™ - all potential best in class therapeutics - and a robust pipeline of preclinical compounds to treat multiple cancers and CNS disorders. Rexahn also operates key R&D programs of nano-medicines, 3D-GOLD, and TIMES drug discovery platforms. For more information, please visit www.rexahn.com.

Safe Harbor

To the extent any statements made in this press release deal with information that is not historical, these are forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Rexahn's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations and products and other statements identified by words such as "will," "potential," "could," "can," "believe," "intends," "continue," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "may," other words of similar meaning or the use of future dates. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Uncertainties and risks may cause Rexahn's actual results to be materially different than those expressed in or implied by Rexahn's forward-looking statements. For Rexahn, particular uncertainties and risks include, among others, the difficulty of developing pharmaceutical products, obtaining regulatory and other approvals and achieving market acceptance; the marketing success of Rexahn's licensees or sublicensees; the success of clinical testing; and Rexahn's need for and ability to obtain additional financing. More detailed information on these and additional factors that could affect Rexahn's actual results are described in Rexahn's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release. Rexahn undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



CONTACT:

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Investor Relations
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
Stephanie Ascher, 212-362-1200
[email protected]
or
Base Pair Communications
Constantine Theodoropulos, 617-401-3116
[email protected]

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Maryland

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Health  Biotechnology  Clinical Trials  Oncology  Pharmaceutical

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