LA JOLLA, Calif., April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Nasdaq-NNM: AGPH) today summarized recent results from the evaluation of two
anticancer drugs being developed by the company.  Scientists will report these
findings at this week's annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer
Research being held in San Diego.

    MMP Inhibitor AG3340
    Agouron Senior Research Scientist, Mary A. Collier, will report
encouraging results achieved in a recently completed phase I study of the
compound designated AG3340.  AG3340 was designed as a highly selective,
nonpeptidic inhibitor of certain matrix metalloproteinases (MMP's) -- a family
of enzymes known to be involved in processes through which tumors invade
tissues, metastasize, and grow.  In this study, healthy male volunteers
received doses between 10 mg and 200 mg of AG3340 in tablet form.  The purpose
was to evaluate the tolerability of the drug and to determine whether adequate
blood levels of AG3340 could be achieved by oral administration.  AG3340 was
well tolerated at all dose levels studied.  Ms. Collier reported that the drug
was rapidly absorbed following oral administration, resulting in blood levels
of the drug that were substantially greater than those showing efficacy in
animal cancer models.  Agouron will next conduct a phase I study in which
cancer patients will receive AG3340 for extended periods.

    THYMITAQ(TM) (AG337)
    Results from a preclinical study conducted by the Department of Radiation
Oncology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, and Agouron yielded encouraging data
concerning Agouron's antitumor agent THYMITAQ.  Administered at a subtoxic
dose, THYMITAQ enhanced the effectiveness of radiotherapy 260% in animals, and
increased the tumor control rate (TCD50) from 10% (with radiation alone) to
90%.  The study suggests that THYMITAQ, a potent inhibitor of the enzyme
thymidylate synthase (TS) may have utility as an enhancer of radiation therapy
of human tumors.
    Phase I interim data in England evaluating THYMITAQ in children with
advanced malignancies is continuing.  To date, 13 children have been treated.
Plasma pharmacokinetics were comparable to those at similar dose levels in the
adult phase I study of THYMITAQ administered as a continuous five-day
intravenous infusion.  A 50% reduction of peripheral blast cell count was
achieved in two patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
    THYMITAQ is currently being evaluated for safety and efficacy in the
treatment of head and neck cancer and of hepatocellular (liver) cancer in
phase II/III clinical trials being carried out in the United States, Europe
and Asia.  AG3340 and THYMITAQ are being developed by Agouron in collaboration
with Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.
    Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an integrated pharmaceutical firm
committed to the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of
small-molecule drugs engineered to inactivate proteins which play key roles in
cancer, AIDS, and other serious diseases.
    THYMITAQ(TM) is a trademark of Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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