GLFD Guilford Pharmaceuticals (MM)

Guilford Presents Novel Research at the 95th Annual Meeting of The American Association for Cancer Research BALTIMORE, April 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced today that the company presented two poster presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting this week in Orlando, Florida. The presentations featured research results from Guilford's Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor program, which is developing proprietary PARP inhibitors to treat cancer and ischemia. Dr. Barbara Slusher, Senior Vice President of Research and Toxicology at Guilford, commented, "The results we presented this week confirm the value of developing PARP inhibitors for chemosensitization and radiosensitization in cancer treatment. Data from our preclinical studies indicate that administration of our orally biovailable, soluble, and highly brain penetrable lead PARP inhibitor, GPI 15427, enhances the anti-tumor efficacy of both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Significant efficacy with GPI 15427 was observed as a chemosensitizer with temezolomide in a brain metastatic melanoma model and as a radiosensitizer in a model of head and neck cancer." Dr. Slusher continued, "Importantly, this work was supported by three outside grants allowing Guilford to focus its internal resources on our lead clinical development programs, in particular, AQUAVAN(R) Injection, a novel sedative/hypnotic, and GPI 1485, a novel investigational newdrug for the potential treatment of Parkinson's disease and post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction. In this way, we can continue to advance, earlier-stage breakthrough science while focusing our resources on our later-stage development programs." PARP Presentations Guilford's Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor program aims at developing proprietary PARP inhibitors for treating cancer and ischemia. The essential role of PARP in facilitating DNA repair, mediating cell death and regulating immune response make the enzyme a novel drug target candidate for a broad spectrum of diseases. In various cancer models, Guilford's PARP inhibitors have been shown to potentiate radiation therapy and chemotherapy by increasing apoptosis of cancer cells, limiting tumor growth, decreasing metastasis, and prolonging the survival of tumor-bearing animals. Preclinical data presented this week at the AACR meeting demonstrate that the company's lead, orally available PARP inhibitor, GPI 15427, can cross the blood-brain barrier and induce significant enhancement of the anti-tumor efficacy of temozolomide, an oral anti-cancer drug. Similarly, GPI 15427, when administered either orally or by IV injection, can enhance the effect of radiation in a model of head and neck cancer. Presentations from Guilford's PARP program included: 1. GPI 15427, a PARP-1 Inhibitor, Enhances Radiation Treatment in a Human Xenograft Head and Neck Cancer Model. G. Li; X. Li; J. Zhang; W. Xu; D. Calvin; L. Morgan; Z. Tang; K.M. Wozniak; C. Alemu; R. Hoover; B. O'Malley, Jr.; R.G. Lapidus; D. Li. Guilford Pharmaceuticals, Baltimore, MD and Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 2. Oral Administration of the PARP-1 Inhibitor GPI 15427 Increases the Anti-tumor Activity of Temozolomide Against Melanoma Growing at the CNS Site. L. Tentori; C. Leonetti; M. Scarsella; W. Xu; D. Calvin; L. Morgan; Z. Tang; K.M. Wozniak; C. Alemu; R. Hoover; R.G. Lapidus; G. Zupi; J. Zhang; G. Graziani. Department of Neuroscience, University of Rome, Italy; Experimental Clinical Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, and Guilford Pharmaceuticals, Baltimore, MD About Guilford Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a fully integrated pharmaceutical company engaged in the research, development and commercialization of products that target the hospital market. Presently, Guilford markets two commercial products, GLIADEL(R) Wafer(polifeprosan 20 with carmustine implant), for the treatment of brain cancer, and AGGRASTAT(R) Injection (tirofiban hydrochloride), a glycoprotein GP IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist used for the treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Guilford's product pipeline includes a novel anesthetic, AQUAVAN(R) Injection, and drugs for treating Parkinson's disease and post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction. This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" contained in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2004, that could cause the Company's actual results and experience to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. Among other things, there can be no assurance that Guilford will be able to successfully develop or commercialize its PARP inhibitor technology for any therapeutic application. CONTACT:Stacey Jurchison, Director, Corporate Communications, Guilford Pharmaceuticals, (410) 631-5022; . http://www.guilfordpharm.com/. DATASOURCE: Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. CONTACT: Stacey Jurchison, Director, Corporate Communications, Guilford Pharmaceuticals, +1-410-631-5022, Web site: http://www.guilfordpharm.com/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/112882.html

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