KOS-953 (17-AAG) Shows Anticancer Activity in Preclinical Studies Reported at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting
Sunday December 5, 8:55 pm ET
HAYWARD, Calif., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kosan Biosciences Incorporated (Nasdaq: KOSN - News) announced today at the 46th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in San Diego, the presentation of important preclinical data on its anticancer compound 17-AAG (17-allylamino- 17-demethoxygeldanamycin), a heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor. KOS-953, Kosan's proprietary formulation of 17-AAG was shown to have in vitro and in vivo activity against a broad spectrum of multiple myeloma cells, including cells that are both sensitive and resistant to cytotoxic chemotherapeutics, the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, and thalidomide or its derivatives. KOS-953 is currently being evaluated in multiple myeloma patients in a single-agent Phase I clinical trial and a Phase Ib combination trial with bortezomib (Velcade®).
The poster, entitled "Anti-Tumor Activity of KOS-953, a Cremophor-Based Formulation of the Hsp90 Inhibitor of 17-AAG" (Abstract # 2404), presents work conducted by Dr. Constantine Mitsiades, et al at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. In in vitro studies, KOS-953 triggered the depletion of several key kinases, such as Akt and Raf, leading to tumor cell sensitization to several chemotherapeutics, including cytotoxics and bortezomib. In an in vivo study, treatment with KOS-953 was associated with prolongation of overall survival of mice, and was well tolerated. The study evaluated KOS-953 in a mouse model of diffuse multiple myeloma bone lesions and utilized whole-body fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging to follow the treated mice.
According to Robert G. Johnson, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Development and Chief Medical Officer, "These data generated by our colleagues at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute provide further evidence that KOS-953/17-AAG may be an effective treatment modality for patients with multiple myeloma and confirm the potential added benefit of combining KOS-953 with other agents such as bortezomib. We look forward to the results of the ongoing clinical trials in 2005."
Results from a number of other preclinical studies of 17-AAG are also being presented at the ASH meeting, demonstrating the compound's activity in leukemia cells and the potential for effectively combining 17-AAG with other novel chemotherapeutics such as histone deacetylase inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
The original formulation of 17-AAG is being evaluated in multiple Phase I, Phase Ib and in a variety of tumor types in Phase II clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Kosan and the NCI Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP).
About Kosan
Kosan Biosciences has two first-in-class anticancer agents in Phase II clinical trials. KOS-862 (Epothilone D) is in Phase II and Phase Ib clinical trials and is partnered with Roche in a global development and commercialization agreement. 17-AAG, Kosan's lead geldanamycin analog, is in Phase II and Phase Ib clinical trials, and DMAG, its second-generation geldanamycin analog, is in Phase I. Both compounds are being developed in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, including the sponsorship of Kosan-directed trials that are independent of those run by the NCI. Kosan's proprietary formulation of 17-AAG, designated KOS-953, is in Phase I and Phase Ib trials. Both 17-AAG and DMAG are polyketide inhibitors of Hsp90 and interrupt several biological processes implicated in cancer cell growth and survival. Kosan's focus is on an important class of natural products known as polyketides. Polyketides are a class of natural products that have yielded numerous important pharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer, infectious diseases, high cholesterol, transplant rejection and other diseases. Kosan applies its expertise and proprietary technologies to generate polyketide analogs and increase the production yields of polyketides, resulting in a robust pipeline of potentially significant products for cancer, as well as for infectious disease and other therapeutic areas. For additional information on Kosan Biosciences, please visit the Company's website at www.kosan.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking" statements, including statements relating to the potential efficacy of 17-AAG and KOS-953 in the treatment of cancer as monotherapy or in combination with other therapeutics. The replication of preclinical outcomes in human trials is not assured. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the results of Kosan to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks related to the clinical advancement of geldanamycin analogs and Kosan's dependence on the collaboration with the NCI and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, and other periodic filings with the SEC. Kosan does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.
Source: Kosan Biosciences Incorporated |
