SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 20, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:MYRX) today announced that an abstract has been selected for oral presentation at the 2009 Joint Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) and the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors being held October 22-24, 2009 in New Orleans, LA. The presentation will disclose new findings concerning Azixa(TM), a Myriad Pharmaceuticals drug candidate being developed as a treatment for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and metastatic melanoma. The SNO presentation will include data relating to the use of Azixa as a potential monotherapy and in potential combination with bevacizumab (Avastin(R)).
The abstract title is provided below, however, please note that all data are embargoed until the time of the presentation. Afterwards, the presentation will be available as a PDF file on the Myriad Pharmaceuticals website (http://www.myriadpharma.com).
Abstract # 127 (Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, 1:15-1:25 PM CDT): MPC-6827: Anti-tumor Activity in an Orthotopic Brain Model and in Combination with Bevacizumab
About Azixa(TM) (MPC-6827)
Azixa is Myriad Pharmaceutical's most advanced cancer drug candidate. Azixa is currently in three Phase 2 studies for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme and metastatic melanoma. Azixa has two unique distinguishing activities. In non-clinical studies, Azixa has demonstrated the ability to effectively cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the brain at levels as much as 3000% of that in plasma. Also, Azixa does not appear to be subject to multiple drug resistance (MDR) mechanisms. Frequently primary and secondary tumors develop multiple drug resistance and stop responding to the chemotherapeutic agents used today, thus significantly limiting their effectiveness and leaving patients few additional therapeutic options. Glioblastoma multiforme is diagnosed in about 20,000 Americans each year. Metastases in the brain are a very common problem in late stage cancers with an annual U.S. incidence of approximately 170,000 patients.
The Company expects to report interim results from the ongoing Phase 2 trial of Azixa in metastatic melanoma at the AACR-NCI-EORTC Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics meeting in Boston in November 2009.
About Myriad Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Myriad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel small molecule drugs that address severe medical conditions, including cancer and HIV infection. Our pipeline includes clinical and pre-clinical product candidates with distinct mechanisms of action and novel chemical structures that have the potential to be first-in-class and/or best-in-class therapeutics.
The Myriad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6327
Azixa and the Myriad Pharmaceuticals logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Myriad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in the United States and foreign countries.
Avastin is a trademark of Genentech, Inc.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the Company's plan to disclose new findings concerning Azixa at the 2009 Joint Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology and the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors being held October 22-24, 2009; and the potential efficacy and timing of development of Azixa, including the company's expectation to report interim results from the ongoing Phase 2 trial of Azixa in metastatic melanoma at the AACR-NCI-EORTC Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics meeting in Boston in November 2009. These "forward-looking statements" are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that we may be unable to further identify, develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; the risk that we may be unable to discover drugs that are safer and more efficacious than our competitors; the risk that we may be unable to develop and maintain manufacturing capabilities for our products; the possibility of delays in the research and development necessary to select drug development candidates and delays in clinical trials; the risk that clinical trials may not result in marketable products; the risk that we may be unable to successfully finance and secure regulatory approval of and market our drug candidates, or that clinical trials will not be completed on the timelines we have estimated; uncertainties about our ability to obtain new corporate collaborations and acquire new technologies on satisfactory terms, if at all; the development of competing products and services; the risk that we may be unable to protect our proprietary technologies; the risk of patent-infringement claims; risks of new, changing and competitive technologies and regulations in the United States and internationally; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in "Item 1A. - Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2009, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Myriad Pharmaceuticals undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.