The Company’s collaboration partner Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has initiated a second clinical study of EZN-2968 to evaluate additional dosing schedule
Copenhagen, Denmark – 2 November 2007 Santaris Pharma A/S today announced the initiation of an open-label, non-randomized Phase 1 study with its HIF-1 alpha antagonist (EZN-2968) licensed outside Europe in 2006 to Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. USA. The study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of the HIF-1 alpha antagonist in a daily for 5 days schedule in approximately 30 patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphoma.
“We are very encouraged that Enzon Pharmaceuticals has initiated the second phase 1 study with EZN-2968, a novel RNA-targeted drug based on Santaris Pharmas Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) technology,” said Keith McCullagh, CEO of Santaris Pharma A/S. “The early safety data on the ongoing cancer trial are encouraging and Enzon is now evaluating alternative dose schedules in this second human study in patients with advanced cancer.”
The investigational drug blocks the production of Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha), a key regulator of a large number of genes important in cancer biology, including many involved in angiogenesis, cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell invasion. HIF-1 alpha is low in normal cells, but elevated in a variety of cancers. High expression of HIF-1 alpha is strongly correlated with poor prognosis and resistance to therapy. Therefore, drugs that inhibit HIF-1 alpha are expected to block multiple mechanisms that control cancer progression. Enzon Pharmaceuticals took over the development EZN-2968 from Santaris Pharma in July 2006 along with a Survivin RNA antagonist but is developing both drugs for the commercial benefit of both companies. If successful, Enzon will market the drugs outside Europe and Santaris Pharma will commercialize them within Europe. The companies are also collaborating in drug discovery to create up to six additional proprietary product candidates from Santaris Pharma’s LNA technology platform. The novel RNA antagonists are all directed against novel cancer targets selected by Enzon.
For further information, please contact
Director, Corporate Communications
Randi Krogsgaard
Santaris Pharma A/S
Bøge Allé 3-5
DK 2970 Hørsholm
Tel: +45 45179800
Mobile: +45 20488384
E-mail: rmk@santaris.com
www.santaris.com
Santaris Pharma is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company and one of the world leaders in the exciting new field of RNA medicines. Santaris Pharma develops innovative RNA blocking drugs based on its unique LNA technology, to which the company has world wide exclusive pharmaceutical rights. Santaris Pharma is committed to improving clinical outcomes in cancer, metabolic disorders and other unmet medical needs, and to building a successful and rapidly growing business, delivering value to shareholders.