INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- ApeX Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing novel compounds to treat cancer, today announced the presentation of two posters describing preclinical efficacy of drug candidate APX3330 in models of pancreatic cancer targeting the novel inhibition of multiple oncogenic transcription factors associated with the APE1/Ref-1 protein, at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics to be held in Boston, MA on November 5-9, 2015.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and is one of the few cancers for which survival has not improved substantially over nearly 40 years. Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers; 94% of pancreatic cancer patients will die within five years of diagnosis (American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts & Figures 2014). Treatment with chemotherapy has not changed the natural course of this disease, and just recently, with combination of chemotherapeutic agents, the median survival reached a year.
APX3330 is a small molecule that targets the DNA repair protein APE1/Ref-1, a dual function protein involved in both DNA repair and redox-signaling co-activation of oncogenic transcription factors. APE1/Ref-1 regulates multiple transcription factors involved in pancreatic cancer cell survival signaling including HIF-1alfa, AP-1, NFkappaB, and STAT3. High expression levels of APE1/Ref-1 also indicate decreased survival in PDAC as well as other cancers.
APX3330 has been shown in multiple in vitro and in vivo models of pancreatic cancer to be effective in reducing tumor growth and metastases as a single agent. In addition, APX3330 combined with a standard dose of Gemcitabine demonstrated significant decreases in tumor volume compared to treatment by the respective drugs as single-agents.
Mark R. Kelley, PhD., Chief Scientific Founder of ApeX Therapeutics and Betty and Earl Herr Chair in Pediatric Oncology Research and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Pharmacology and Toxicology at Indiana University School of Medicine, commented: "We are very excited to share these data with the scientific and professional community. Our identification of a novel target pathway for cancer treatment that can impact several oncogenic transcription factors simultaneously presents enormous potential treatment opportunities for multiple malignancies, including PDAC. We are preparing our investigational new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a Phase 1 study with APX3330 and anticipate starting the trial in early 2016."
Dr. Kelley will present two posters at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics:
Title: APX3330 Drug Development for Clinical Trials Targeting APE1/Ref-1 in Pancreatic Cancer
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2015
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Session Title: Therapeutic Agents: Other
Location: Exhibit Hall C-D
Abstract Number: B167
Title: Targeting APE1/Ref-1 Results in Inhibition of Hypoxia Signaling Genes
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2015
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Session Title: Target Identification and Validation
Location: Exhibit Hall C-D
Abstract Number: B158
For more information about the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics and to view the poster abstracts, please visit: http://www.aacr.org/Meetings/Pages/MeetingDetail.aspx?EventItemID=52#.VjK9mLerSM8
About ApeX Therapeutics
ApeX Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing novel compounds to treat cancer targeting the multiple functions of the APE1/Ref-1 protein. Our lead drug candidate, APX3330 targets the treatment of pancreatic cancer and we expect to be in human clinical studies in 2016. To learn more about ApeX Therapeutics, please visit the Company's website at www.apextherapeutics.com
Media Contact:
Rachel Levine
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E: rlevine@kingstonadvisors.com
SOURCE ApeX Therapeutics