CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 9, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:INFI), an innovative cancer drug discovery and development company, today announced the presentation of preclinical data from the natural product foundation of IPI-926, Infinity's orally-available inhibitor of the Hedgehog pathway, demonstrating significant inhibition of tumor growth in a primary ovarian cancer model.
Data from the laboratory of Bo Rueda, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School and Associate Director, Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, was introduced in an oral presentation entitled, "Hedgehog inhibitor cyclopamine suppresses Gli1 expression and inhibits serous ovarian cancer xenograft growth" last week at the 40th Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists. The data show that treatment with cyclopamine, the natural product foundation of IPI-926, in animals bearing grafts of primary ovarian cancer resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition compared to vehicle treated animals. Dr. Rueda's models of ovarian cancer are derived from patient specimens that have not undergone prior tissue culture, and are believed to reflect the clinical presentation of ovarian cancer.
Infinity's novel, oral, Hedgehog pathway inhibitor, IPI-926, is semi-synthetic derivative of the natural product cyclopamine with superior drug-like properties, including being 30 to 50 times more potent. In addition, IPI-926 has demonstrated significant anti-tumor activity and excellent pharmaceutical properties, including oral bioavailability, long plasma half-life and duration of action, and dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth, in a number of preclinical models including pancreatic cancer, small cell lung cancer, and medulloblastoma.
IPI-926 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 trial in patients with advanced and/or metastatic solid tumors. The study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of IPI-926, and to determine a recommended dose and schedule for subsequent studies. Infinity will also evaluate potential anti-tumor activity of IPI-926 and examine pharmacodynamic markers of its biological activity.
Infinity anticipates publishing additional preclinical data with IPI-926 at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in April 2009.
About IPI-926
IPI-926 is a novel, proprietary inhibitor of the Hedgehog signaling pathway being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with advanced solid tumors. IPI-926 is a derivative of the natural product cyclopamine that binds to and inhibits a key regulator of this pathway, the Smoothened receptor. The Hedgehog signaling pathway is normally active in regulating tissue and organ formation during embryonic development. However, abnormal activation of the Hedgehog pathway can lead to cancer and is believed to play a central role in allowing the proliferation and survival of several types of cancers, including pancreatic, prostate, lung, breast, and certain brain cancers. In preclinical models, IPI-926 has demonstrated significant anti-tumor activity and excellent pharmaceutical properties, including oral bioavailability, long plasma and tumor half-life, and dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth, in a number of preclinical models.
About Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Infinity is an innovative cancer drug discovery and development company seeking to discover, develop, and deliver to patients best-in-class medicines for the treatment of cancer and related conditions. Infinity combines proven scientific expertise with a passion for developing novel small molecule drugs that target emerging cancer pathways. Infinity's two most advanced programs in Hsp90 inhibition and Hedgehog signaling pathway inhibition are evidence of its innovative approach to oncology drug discovery and development. For more information on Infinity, please refer to the company's website at http://www.infi.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the utility of Hedgehog inhibitors, including IPI-926, in treating various types of cancer; future clinical trial activity of IPI-926; and the presentation of additional preclinical data on IPI-926. Such statements are subject to numerous factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from the company's current expectations. For example, there can be no guarantee that IPI-926 will successfully complete necessary preclinical and clinical development phases. In particular, management's expectations could be affected by risks and uncertainties relating to: results of clinical trials and preclinical studies, including subsequent analysis of existing data and new data received from ongoing and future studies; the content and timing of decisions made by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory authorities, investigational review boards at clinical trial sites, and publication review bodies; Infinity's ability to enroll patients in its clinical trials; decisions made by EORTC and other organizations evaluating data for presentation or publication; Infinity's ability to obtain additional funding required to conduct its research, development and commercialization activities; unplanned cash requirements and expenditures; and Infinity's ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for any product candidates it is developing. These and other risks which may impact management's expectations are described in greater detail under the caption "Risk Factors" included in Infinity's registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 9, 2009. Further, any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Infinity expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.