Lorus Therapeutics Announces Allowance of New United States Patent for its Anticancer Drug LOR-2040
29 Julio 2008 - 7:00AM
Marketwired
TORONTO, ONTARIO (AMEX: LRP) ("Lorus"), a biopharmaceutical
company specializing in the research and development of
pharmaceutical products and technologies for the management of
cancer, today announced the allowance of a new patent from the
United States Patent and Trademark Office for its clinical-stage
anticancer drug LOR-2040.
The patent, which was issued this month as U.S. Patent No.
7,405,205, protects methods of treating leukemia with LOR-2040,
both alone and in combination with chemotherapy drugs. The patent
also covers methods of treating specific solid cancers with
LOR-2040, including colon, lung, breast, and bladder cancers.
LOR-2040 composition as well as its design and use as a unique
anticancer drug is currently protected in the U.S. under a separate
patent issued in 1999.
LOR-2040 is being tested in two separate clinical studies in
leukemia indications. In 2008, Lorus initiated an advanced Phase II
clinical study with LOR-2040 in combination with high dose
cytarabine (HiDAC) in patients less than 60 years of age with
relapsed or refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). LOR-2040 is
also under study as a single agent in a Phase I clinical trial in
acute leukemias and high-grade myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS),
which is sponsored by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) under a Clinical Trials
Agreement with Lorus.
LOR-2040 has shown significant anticancer activity and low
toxicity in a variety of human tumor types in preclinical studies.
In a recently completed proof-of-concept clinical trial, patients
with relapsed or refractory AML showed a 35% complete response
rate, accumulation of LOR-2040 in tumor cells, and down regulation
of its biochemical target following treatment with LOR-2040 in
combination with HiDAC.
"Leukemia remains a primary focus for LOR-2040 development and
future commercialization," said Dr. Aiping Young, Lorus' President
and CEO. "This newly issued U.S. patent adds additional strength to
our global IP position for this drug, and supports the potential
development in other cancers in a major market."
About LOR-2040
LOR-2040 (formerly GTI-2040) is an RNA-targeted drug that
specifically targets the R2 component of ribonucleotide reductase,
which is required for DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Through
downregulation of R2, LOR-2040 has demonstrated strong antitumor
and antimetastatic activity in a variety of tumor types in both in
vivo and in vitro models and is under study in a multiple Phase
I/II clinical program, including an advanced Phase II clinical
trial with LOR-2040 and high dose Ara-C (HiDAC) in refractory and
relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). The R2 target has been
described as a malignant determinant that is elevated in a wide
range of tumors, which can cooperate with a variety of cellular
cancer causing genes known as oncogenes to enhance tumor growth and
metastatic potential.
About Lorus
Lorus is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and
development of novel therapeutics in cancer. Lorus' goal is to
capitalize on its research, preclinical, clinical and regulatory
expertise by developing new drug candidates that can be used,
either alone, or in combination with other drugs, to successfully
manage cancer. Through its own discovery efforts and an acquisition
and in-licensing program, Lorus is building a portfolio of
promising anticancer drugs. Lorus Therapeutics Inc. is listed on
the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol LOR, and on the
American Stock Exchange under the symbol LRP.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Such statements
include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: our
research program plans, our plans to conduct clinical trials, the
successful and timely completion of clinical studies and the
regulatory approval process, our ability to fund future research,
our plans to obtain partners to assist in the further development
of our product candidates, the establishment of corporate
alliances, the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and
intentions and other statements including words such as "continue",
"believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "will", "should", "may", and
other similar expressions. Such statements reflect our current
views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and
uncertainties and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates
and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us are
inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive,
political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors
could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be
materially different from any future results, performance, or
achievements that may be expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements, including, among others: our ability to
obtain the capital required for research and operations, the
inherent risks in early stage drug development including
demonstrating efficacy, development time/cost and the regulatory
approval process; the progress of our clinical trials; our ability
to find and enter into agreements with potential partners; our
ability to attract and retain key personnel; changing market
conditions; and other risks detailed from time-to-time in our
ongoing quarterly filings, annual information forms, annual reports
and annual filings with Canadian securities regulators and the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize,
or should the assumptions set out in the section entitled "Risk
Factors" in our Annual Information Form underlying those
forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary
materially from those described herein. These forward-looking
statements are made as of the date of this press release and we do
not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these
forward-looking statements, except as required by law. We cannot
assure you that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Investors are cautioned that
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance
and accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance
on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty
therein.
Lorus Therapeutics Inc.'s recent press releases are available
through the Company's website at www.lorusthera.com. For Lorus'
regulatory filings on SEDAR, please go to www.Sedar.com. For SEDAR
filings prior to July 10, 2007 you will find these under the
company profile for Global Summit Real Estate Inc. (Old Lorus).
Contacts: Lorus Therapeutics Inc. Dr. Saeid Babaei (416)
798-1200 ext. 490 Email: ir@lorusthera.com Website:
www.lorusthera.com
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