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Boston Biomedical to Present Preclinical Data on Targeting Cancer Stemness at AACR 2017

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Biomedical, an industry leader in the development of next-generation cancer therapeutics designed to inhibit cancer stemness pathways, will present data from six preclinical studies – including five late-breaking posters – from its research and development portfolio at the upcoming 2017 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting held from April 1-5, in Washington, D.C.

One of the featured pre-clinical studies highlights the potential of BBI-801 – a gene-silencing investigational agent designed to inhibit cancer stemness pathways and promote anti-cancer immunity by targeting β-catenin and PD-L1. BBI-801 was discovered through our proprietary asymmetric interfering RNA (aiRNA) technology and is being investigated in preclinical studies.

Additional preclinical data on our first-in-class compounds, napabucasin and amcasertib, will also be shared at the meeting. Napabucasin is an orally-administered investigational agent designed to inhibit cancer stemness pathways by targeting STAT3. Amcasertib is an orally-administered investigational agent designed to inhibit cancer stemness pathways, including Nanog, by targeting stemness kinases.

"Our presentations at this year's AACR highlight our fundamental research in cancer stemness science and the exciting potential of targeting cancer stemness pathways," said Chiang J. Li, M.D. FACP, President, CEO, and Chief Medical Officer of Boston Biomedical, and the Head of Global Oncology for Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Group. "These data underscore our continued commitment to bringing potentially transformative therapies to patients living with cancer."

Planned data posters include:

Sunday, April 2, 1:00 PM5:00 PM ET; Late-Breaking Research: Molecular and Cellular Biology 1; Poster Section 36

  • Abstract LB-023, Poster #9: STK17A, a novel serine threonine kinase, promotes cancer stemness phenotypes by phosphorylating β-catenin
    • Taiki Kida, Harry A. Rogoff, Chiang J. Li.; Boston Biomedical Inc., Cambridge, MA

Monday, April 3, 8:00 AM12:00 PM ET; Late-Breaking Research: Cancer Chemistry, Poster Section 35

  • Abstract LB-069, Poster #8: In vivo delivery of asymmetric gene-silencing RNAs targeting CTNNB1 and PD-L1 show a broad spectrum of potent antitumor activities in preclinical cancer models
    • Youzhi Li, Yuan Gao, Yuxin Wang, Jie Su, Eric Hsu, Ewa Wybieralska, Janet Huang, Keyur Gada, Jun Oishi, Xiaoshu Dai, Erina Koga, Wei Li, Xiangao Sun, Emily Brooks, Chiang J. Li.; Boston Biomedical Inc., Cambridge, MA

Monday, April 3, 1:00 PM5:00 PM ET; Late-Breaking Research: Tumor Biology 1, Poster Section 36

  • Abstract LB-140, Poster #12: Inhibition of cancer stemness sensitizes colorectal cancer to immune checkpoint inhibitors
    • Yuan Gao, Youzhi Li, Eric Hsu, Yuxin Wang, Janet Huang, Emily Brooks, Chiang J. Li.; Boston Biomedical Inc., Cambridge, MA
  • Abstract LB-142, Poster #14: Identification of STK33 as a cancer stemness kinase and regulator of Nanog function
    • Susan L. Tran, Yudai Furuta, Chen Zhu, Ao Yang, Xiangao Sun, Harry A. Rogoff, Chiang J. Li.; Boston Biomedical Inc., Cambridge, MA
  • Abstract LB-143, Poster #15: Identification of STAT3-NRF2-hypoxia as a novel reinforcing mechanism for promoting cancer stemness
    • Luz Elisa Tavera, Karen Simon, Juying Li, Katherine Geromini, Zhuo Zhang, Sarah Keates, Harry A. Rogoff, Chiang J. Li.; Boston Biomedical, Inc., Cambridge, MA

Tuesday, April 4, 1:00 PM5:00 PM ET; Cancer Stem Cells, Poster Section 37

  • Abstract 4777, Poster #15: Cancer stemness and resistance: Napabucasin (BBI-608) sensitizes stemness-high cancer cells to Paclitaxel by inhibiting the STAT3-MUC1 pathway
    • Harry A. Rogoff, Juying Li, Chiang J. Li.; Boston Biomedical, Inc., Cambridge, MA

About Cancer Stem Cells
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) possess the property of stemness – the ability to self-renew and differentiate into heterogeneous cancer cells. This allows the CSCs to act like seeds, causing a patient's cancer to relapse or spread within the body.i,ii Evidence suggests that these cells possess resistance to chemotherapy, radiation and targeted therapy as well as immunotherapies, so while such treatments can successfully shrink tumors, a population of CSCs may still survive.ii,iii

Boston Biomedical is leading the biopharmaceutical industry in the development of novel compounds designed to target cancer stemness pathways, with the goal of addressing ongoing challenges in cancer treatment.

About Boston Biomedical
Boston Biomedical, Inc. (Founder, President, CEO and CMO: Chiang J. Li, M.D. FACP) was founded in November 2006 and is wholly owned by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. Boston Biomedical's mission is to develop the next generation of cancer therapeutics by creating drugs designed to target cancer stemness pathways. Boston Biomedical's innovation in drug discovery has received a number of recognitions and awards in the United States, including the Frost & Sullivan 2010 North American Drug Discovery Technology Innovation of the Year Award, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) cancer stem cell initiative grant award in 2010, and the 2011 Biotech Pioneer Award at the Alexandria Oncology Summit. The company also received the "Company To Watch" award in the 10th Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards in 2013. Boston Biomedical is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Additional information about the company and its product pipeline can be found at www.BostonBiomedical.com.

Disclaimer Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's assumptions and beliefs in light of information presently available, and involve both known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Any forward looking statements set forth in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. Information concerning pharmaceuticals (including compounds under development) contained within this material is not intended as advertising or medical advice.

For general inquiries:
Boston Biomedical 
617-674-6800

For media inquiries: 
Sara Baker
CHAMBERLAIN PR
212- 849-9474
sara.baker@inventivhealth.com

RELATED LINKS
http://www.bostonbiomedical.com

i Gupta PB, Chaffer CL, Weinberg RA. Cancer stem cells: mirage or reality? Nat Med. 2009;15(9):1010-1012.
ii Ajani JA, Song S, Hochster HS, Steinberg IB. Cancer stem cells: the promise and the potential. Semin Oncol. 2015;42(suppl 1):S3-S17.
iii Jordan CT, Guzman ML, Noble M. Cancer stem cells. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(12):1253-1261.

SOURCE Boston Biomedical, Inc.