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Biotech / Medical : Aronex Pharma (ARNX) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Cacaito who wrote (54)	12/8/1997 12:22:00 PM
From: Robert Floyd	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 320

Company Press Release SOURCE: Aronex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Aronex Presents Preliminary Phase 2 Results of ATRAGEN(TM) At American Society of Hematology Meeting; Expands ATRAGEN(TM) Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Trial THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Aronex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARNX - news) reported preliminary clinical results for its anti-cancer product, ATRAGEN(TM), in a presentation today at the American Society of Hematology 39th Annual Meeting (''ASH'') in San Diego, California. ATRAGEN is currently in a pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate its potential in inducing remission and preventing relapse in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients who have experienced a recurrence of the cancer. ''We believe the preliminary Phase 2 results presented at ASH confirm the ability of ATRAGEN to induce complete remissions in relapsed APL patients,'' said Geoffrey F. Cox, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Aronex Pharmaceuticals. ''Historically, after attaining a complete remission, patients with APL will remain in remission for a median of only six months. The preliminary results of the Phase 2 trial indicate that patients appear to have more durable remissions, including one patient whose remission continues through 17 months. We continue to monitor the progress of the patients.'' In the study presented at ASH, two groups of patients were evaluated to measure ATRAGEN's ability to induce remission and improve the standard six- month remission duration rate. Patients in both groups were given ATRAGEN at 90 mg/m2 every other day for 56 days or until complete remission, whichever came first. The patients in Group 1 were first relapse patients who had never received oral ATRA or had received oral ATRA over one year prior to their relapse date. In Group 1, 100% of the patients achieved complete remission. Historical data provided by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center indicates an 80-90% probability of remission using other treatments. The Group 2 patients were in first or subsequent relapse and had received oral ATRA within one year of their relapse date. One patient in Group 2 achieved complete remission, which is comparable to the historical 13% figure for APL patients. Dr. Cox stated, ''In view of the encouraging preliminary data presented at ASH, we will be aggressively evaluating ATRAGEN's potential as a treatment for additional cancers where new therapies are needed. In part as a result of this expanded program and in part as a result of a recent informal meeting with the Food and Drug Administration, Aronex Pharmaceuticals has decided to delay the filing of a New Drug Application for ATRAGEN to enable enrollment of additional patients with APL and other cancers. The Company believes these expanded clinical trials will effectively support the long-term commercialization of the product.'' Aronex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a leading biopharmaceutical company engaged in the identification and development of proprietary innovative medicines to treat cancer and life-threatening infectious diseases. Aronex currently has four products (Nyotran(TM), ATRAGEN(TM), Annamycin and Zintevir(TM)) in various stages of ongoing clinical development and a number of products in preclinical development. Any statements which are not historical facts contained in this release are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those relating to the Company's early stage of development, future capital needs, uncertainties related to clinical trial results, governmental regulations, no assurance of regulatory approval of products, uncertainty of protection for patents and proprietary technology, manufacturing uncertainties, reliance on third-party suppliers, lack of sales and marketing experience, risks associated with collaborative arrangements, competition and technological change, no assurance of adequate third-party reimbursement, potential product liability, availability of insurance and other risks identified in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. SOURCE: Aronex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.