Media Contact:
Pam Lord
Porter Novelli Life Sciences
619-849-6003
plord@pnlifesciences.com
|
|
NEREUS PHARMACEUTICALS'
NPI-0052 NAMED ONE OF THE INDUSTRY'S TOP TEN UNPARTNERED ONCOLOGY
DRUG CANDIDATES
SAN DIEGO, Calif., October 16, 2007 - Nereus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
a pioneer in the use of marine microbial sources for the discovery
and development of cancer therapeutics, today announced that one of
its two lead drug candidates, NPI-0052, will be featured as a Top
Ten Unpartnered Program at Windhover Information's 2nd Annual
Therapeutic Area Partnerships conference taking place October 24-26,
2007 in Philadelphia, PA. Charles White, Ph.D., Chief Business
Officer of Nereus, will provide an overview of the compound's
mechanism, the ongoing Phase I clinical program, relative advantages
identified in preclinical studies, and potential for broad adoption
across solid tumors and hematological malignancies.
Nereus' novel, small molecule proteasome inhibitor NPI-0052 is in
three Phase I trials for solid tumors, lymphomas, leukemias and
multiple myeloma. Preclinical studies indicate that this next
generation compound may be superior to VelcadeŽ, with broader target
inhibition, faster onset and longer duration of action, higher
potency, oral and intravenous availability, and activity against
myeloma cells resistant to VelcadeŽ (bortezomib, Millennium),
ThalomidŽ (thalidomide, Celgene Corporation), RevlimidŽ (lenalidomide,
Celgene Corporation) and steroid therapy. NPI-0052 was derived from
a marine-obligate gram-positive actinomycete (Salinispora tropica).
NPI-0052 is being tested at world-class cancer centers in three
Phase I clinical trials with sites in the U.S., Australia and
Europe. Clinical trial sites include the M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute, Ohio State University, Roswell Park Cancer
Institute and University of Chicago.
-Nereus' NPI-0052 is a highly differentiated product candidate that
continues to attract interest because of the early positive signals
we've seen in multiple cancer indications. We're pleased the
NPI-0052 program will be featured at the Windhover conference, where
we are eager to broaden its exposure to an international audience
seeking promising partnering opportunities, said Kobi M. Sethna,
President and CEO of Nereus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Windhover Information's 2nd Annual Therapeutic Area Partnerships is
one of the industry's premier partnering meetings for pharmaceutical
and biotech companies seeking partnerships in the top therapeutic
areas: oncology, cardiovascular, metabolic and neurosciences.
Decision-makers focusing on these therapeutic categories meet to
assess the potential for strategic alliances between their
companies. The conference includes company presentations, one-on-one
meetings and networking functions. For information, visit
www.tapartnerships.com.
About Nereus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nereus Pharmaceuticals pursues novel sources of chemical diversity
to discover and develop new therapeutics. Using its unmatched
expertise in marine microbiology to identify unique
biologically active compounds, the Company has two oncology drug
candidates in Phase I clinical trials. NPI-2358, a tumor vascular
disrupting agent, is being evaluated in patients with solid tumors
and lymphomas, and the proteasome inhibitor NPI-0052 is being
developed in patients with solid tumors, lymphomas, leukemias and
multiple myeloma. The Company's discovery portfolio also includes
potential drug candidates for cancer, infectious diseases and
inflammation. For more information, visit
www.nereuspharm.com.
Nereus Pharmaceuticals is a registered trademark of Nereus
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All other product and company names may be
registered trademark or trademarks of their respective owners.
###
Nereus Pharmaceuticals is a registered trademark of Nereus
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All other product and company names may be
registered trademark or trademarks of their respective owners.
|
