LONDON and HANAU, Germany, June 2, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Cancer drug developer Antisoma (LSE:ASM) announces that it has signed an agreement with German specialist manufacturer Heraeus to provide supplies of AS1410 for clinical trials. Development of the drug, which is Antisoma's lead telomere targeting agent (TTA), has progressed rapidly, and the Company now expects its plan to start clinical trials next year will be achieved during the first half of 2006.
TTAs attack cancer cells by binding directly to telomeres, which are regions at the ends of chromosomes. Data presented at the 2005 meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research showed that treatment with AS1410 more than halved the growth rate of a human prostate cancer xenograft. Moreover, the drug has the benefit of a relatively rapid onset of action, affecting tumour growth after only seven days' treatment in the prostate model. AS1410 has broad commercial potential because telomeres play a major role in the survival and proliferation of cells in all types of cancer.
Glyn Edwards, CEO of Antisoma, said: "We're pleased to renew our successful collaboration with Heraeus and to bring closer the clinical trials of AS1410. With our ATTACK agent AS1409 also expected to enter the clinic next year, we look forward to a considerable enhancement of our pipeline through the addition of two high-potential products."
Except for the historical information presented, certain matters discussed in this statement are forward looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties may be associated with product discovery and development, including statements regarding the company's clinical development programmes, the expected timing of clinical trials and regulatory filings. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially.
Background on AS1410
The TTAs under development at Antisoma were invented by Professor Stephen Neidle and his collaborators at the Institute of Cancer Research and the London School of Pharmacy. They were licensed by Antisoma through Cancer Research Technology, a subsidiary of Cancer Research UK. AS1410 was selected as the lead drug from the TTA programme in December 2004.
TTAs work by direct binding to telomeres. These are protective regions found at the ends of chromosomes (the structures into which DNA is packaged in each cell of the body). In normal cells, telomeres shorten slightly with each round of cell division until they become critically short, causing the cell to enter the self-destruct programme of apoptosis. Most cancer cells make the enzyme telomerase, which maintains the length of telomeres and allows the cells to avoid apoptosis. A number of drugs have been developed that inhibit telomerase. These are generally characterised by a slow onset of action because they require rounds of cell division to 'run down' the telomeres to the point where apoptosis ensues. TTAs by contrast act more rapidly, binding to the telomere itself and destabilising it. One clear effect is the uncapping of chromosome ends leading to lethal end-to-end chromosome fusions. The action of TTAs is believed to involve prevention of telomerase binding to the telomere. However, it must have other facets because the drugs show broad effectiveness against cancer cell lines, including the minority that use alternative, non-telomerase mechanisms to maintain their telomeres.
Background on Heraeus
Heraeus, the precious metals and technology group headquartered in Hanau, Germany, is a global private company in the business segments of precious metals, dental health, sensors, quartz glass, and specialty lighting sources. With revenues of 8.3 billion and over 9,800 employees, Heraeus has stood out for more than 150 years as one of the leading companies involved in precious metals and materials technology.
Within the Heraeus group, W.C. Heraeus GmbH has extensive experience in the synthesis of highly potent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API). Besides its traditional focus on generics the Business Unit Pharma seeks and maintains exclusive collaborations for the development and commercial production of New Chemical Entities.
Additional information about Heraeus is available at www.wc-heraeus.com/pharma.
Background on Antisoma
Based in London, U.K., Antisoma is a biopharmaceutical company that develops novel products for the treatment of cancer. Antisoma fills its development pipeline by acquiring promising new product candidates from internationally recognised academic or cancer research institutions. Its core activity is the preclinical and clinical development of these drug candidates. In 2002, Antisoma formed a broad strategic alliance with Roche to develop and commercialise products from Antisoma's pipeline. Please visit www.antisoma.com for further information about Antisoma.