Focus on Rigel's Extensive Oncology Portfolio
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rigel
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RIGL) today announced the presentation of
four research projects aimed at identifying small molecule inhibitors of
select kinases as potential therapeutics for certain types of cancers and
other disorders. Rigel scientists will give the presentations during poster
sessions from April 16th to 18th (see list below) at the upcoming meeting
of the American Association for Cancer Research in Los Angeles, California.
"We believe that Rigel's participation in this AACR meeting is an
acknowledgment of the depth and breadth of our oncology R&D portfolio,"
said Donald G. Payan, M.D., executive vice president and chief scientific
officer of Rigel. "We have established Rigel as a productive company in the
discovery of oncology kinase products and believe that Rigel is
well-positioned to take the lead in the next generation of oncology targets
-- ligases," he added. Additional information regarding Rigel's oncology
pipeline and ubiquitin ligase research can be found at
http://www.rigel.com.
One of the presentations is entitled, "Small Molecule Inhibitors of the
Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase as Therapeutics for Angiogenesis and Tumor
Growth". Rigel's scientists have found that Axl signaling controls
processes vital for both neovascularization and tumorigenesis in
endothelial (smooth muscle) cells. Rigel has subsequently screened for and
identified compounds that could potentially inhibit Axl expression. Lead
compounds from this program have shown positive results in animal models of
oncology and other areas. In addition to developing a treatment for certain
cancers, Rigel's scientists believe that their therapeutic candidates'
ability to suppress angiogenesis may have a role in treating endometriosis,
a painful, chronic disease caused by the uninhibited growth of endometrial
cells outside of the uterus. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in
America and endometriosis is estimated to affect 5.5 million females in the
U.S. and Canada. Rigel plans to select an orally-delivered product
candidate from this program during 2007, and to file an investigational new
drug application (IND) and begin clinical trials in 2008.
Rigel's scientists will be presenting three other poster presentations
at the AACR meeting highlighting drug discovery efforts focused on
significant cancer targets: Janus Tyrosine Kinase 2 (JAK 2), Polo-Like
Kinase 1 (PLK 1) and Protein Kinase C-related Kinase 1 (PRK-1). Rigel
anticipates that small molecule candidates inhibiting these targets, and
others, will form a sequential series of IND candidates in oncology.
Oncology Portfolio and Partnerships
Rigel presently has two product candidates in clinical trials for
cancer: a new Phase 2 trial of R788, an oral Syk inhibitor, for patients
with B-cell lymphoma; and R763, an oral Aurora Kinase inhibitor, which its
partner, Merck Serono, has in two Phase 1 studies for patients with solid
tumors and hematological malignancies (see two presentations by Merck
Serono on R763/AS703569 at the AACR meeting as listed below).
Rigel believes it has established a leadership position in identifying
and discovering small molecule therapeutics to regulate a new category of
drug targets, ligases, which may present a novel approach to discovering
cancer treatments. Rigel has a number of research projects underway in the
ligase area.
In addition, Rigel has established numerous corporate partnerships in
oncology research and development including agreements with: Johnson &
Johnson in 1999 to explore cell cycle regulation targets; Novartis in 2001
to generate angiogenesis targets; Merck Serono in 2005 to develop R763; and
in the nascent field of drug discovery of ligase inhibitors for oncology
with Daiichi in 2002 and Merck in 2004.
Poster Presentations at the 2007 AACR Meeting
Monday, April 16, 2007 8:00am-12:00pm
Targeting myeloproliferative diseases with JAK2 inhibitors
Session ID: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics 20, Abstract
Number 2388
Monday, April 16, 2007 8:00am-12:00pm (by Merck Serono)
The novel Aurora kinase inhibitor AS703569 shows potent anti-tumor
activity in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
Session ID: Targeted Agents and Other Novel Therapies, Abstract
Number 1817
Monday, April 16, 2007 1:00pm-5:00pm (by Merck Serono)
Preclinical evaluation of the orally available Aurora Kinase inhibitor
AS703569 to support the selection of tumor indications for clinical
studies
Session ID: Kinase Inhibitors 2, Abstract Number 3264
Tuesday, April 17, 2007 8:00am-12:00pm
PRK-1 kinase regulates endothelial migration and is novel target for
anti-angiogenesis therapy
Session ID: Tumor Biology 23, Abstract Number 3828
Tuesday, April 17, 2007 1:00pm-5:00pm
Small molecule inhibitors of the Axl receptor tyrosine kinase as
therapeutics for angiogenesis and tumor growth
Session ID: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics 37, Abstract
Number 4759
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 8:00am-12:00pm
Image based driven drug discovery of Polo-Like Kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitors
Session ID: Tumor Biology 40, Abstract Number 5529
About Rigel (http://www.rigel.com)
Rigel is a clinical-stage drug development company that discovers and
develops novel, small-molecule drugs for the treatment of inflammatory
diseases and cancer, as well as viral and metabolic diseases. Our goal is
to file one new investigational new drug (IND) application in a significant
indication each year. Rigel has achieved this goal every year since 2002.
Our pioneering research focuses on intracellular signaling pathways and
related targets that are critical to disease mechanisms. Rigel's
productivity has resulted in strategic collaborations with large
pharmaceutical partners to develop and market our product candidates. Rigel
has product development programs in inflammatory/autoimmune diseases such
as rheumatoid arthritis, thrombocytopenia and asthma, as well as in cancer.
This press release contains "forward-looking" statements, including
statements related to Rigel's plans to pursue clinical development of
product candidates and the timing thereof. Any statements contained in this
press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to
be forward-looking statements. Words such as "plans," "intends,"
"promising," "expects," "anticipates" and similar expressions are intended
to identify these forward-looking statements. There are a number of
important factors that could cause Rigel's results to differ materially
from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including risks
associated with the timing and success of clinical trials and the
commercialization of product candidates, as well as other risks detailed
from time to time in Rigel's SEC reports, including its Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2006. Rigel does not undertake any obligation to
update forward-looking statements.
Contact: Raul Rodriguez
Phone: 650.624.1302
Email: invrel@rigel.com
Media Contact: Susan C. Rogers, Alchemy Consulting, Inc.
Phone: 650.430.3777
Email: susan@alchemyemail.com
SOURCE Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.rigel.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030226/RIGLLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org PRN Photo Desk
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CONTACT:
Raul Rodriguez of Rigel Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., +1-650-624-1302, invrel@rigel.com; or Media, Susan C.
Rogers of Alchemy Consulting, Inc., +1-650-430-3777,
susan@alchemyemail.com
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