CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Xanthus Life Sciences, Inc.
today announced it has been issued U.S. Patent No. 6,989,390 covering the use
of Xanthus' cancer drug, Xanafide(TM), a new salt form of amonafide (a
topoisomerase 2 inhibitor) for the treatment of a broad range of cancers,
including breast, colon, lung, prostate and leukemia.
Xanthus recently initiated a multi-center Phase 2 study in patients with
secondary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) based on data from a Phase 1 study,
which showed encouraging activity and an acceptable safety profile. Secondary
AML refers to those patients who have developed AML based on an antecedent
condition, either myelodysplastic syndrome or prior regimens of chemotherapy
or radiation therapy, and usually represents those with the poorest prognosis.
Currently there are no drugs specifically approved for the treatment of
secondary AML.
About Xanafide(TM)
Xanafide(TM) (amonafide malate) is an ATP-independent topoisomerase 2
inhibitor. In a Phase 1 study, amonafide was given together with a continuous
infusion of ara-C (standard in combination therapy used to treat AML) in
patients with poor-prognosis AML and demonstrated a clinical response rate of
46% (12/26), with 38% (10/26) achieving complete remission and two patients
achieving near-complete remission. The median duration of remission was five
months, with two patients remaining disease-free for over two years and over
five years following post-remission therapy. Results of this Phase 1 study
were presented at the 2005 ASCO annual meeting.
About Xanthus Life Sciences, Inc.
Xanthus Life Sciences, Inc. is developing a portfolio of novel, clinical-
stage, small-molecule oncology drugs through a management team whose
accomplished track record encompasses all aspects of drug development, from
discovery through regulatory approval and commercialization. The Company is
applying its expertise both to advance its current pipeline and expand it into
indications of unmet medical need beyond oncology.
Xanthus is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts with an additional
facility in Montreal, Quebec. More information is available at
http://www.xanthus.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Xanthus
that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For this purpose, any
statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be
deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the
words, "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "estimates," "intends,"
"should," "could," "will," "may," and similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors
that could cause Xanthus' actual results to differ materially from those
indicated by such forward-looking statements, including risks as to whether
results obtained in early clinical studies or in preclinical studies such as
the studies referred to above will be indicative of results obtained in future
clinical trials or warrant additional trials; whether products based on
Xanthus' technology will advance through the clinical trial process and
receive approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration or
equivalent foreign regulatory agencies; whether the company will have the cash
resources to develop and commercialize its products; and whether the patent
and patent applications owned or licensed by Xanthus will protect the
Company's technology and prevent others from infringing it. Xanthus disclaims
any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Contacts:
Kari Watson, MacDougall Biomedical Communications, Inc. -
kwatson@macbiocom.com or (508) 647-0209
John A. McCarthy, Jr., Senior Vice President & CFO, Xanthus Life Sciences,
Inc. - john.mccarthy@xanthus.com or (617) 225-0522, x 125
SOURCE Xanthus Life Sciences, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.xanthus.com
CONTACT:
Kari Watson of MacDougall Biomedical
Communications, Inc., +1-508-647-0209, kwatson@macbiocom.com; or
John A. McCarthy, Jr., Senior Vice President & CFO of Xanthus
Life Sciences Inc., +1-617-225-0522, ext. 125,
john.mccarthy@xanthus.com
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