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SGX Initiates Phase I Trials for SGX523
SAN DIEGO, Jan 16, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News
Network/ -- SGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGXP) today
announced that it has opened enrollment in two Phase I studies,
with the first patient being treated on January 14, 2008. The
Phase I studies are designed to evaluate the safety,
tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile of SGX523, an
internally developed, orally-bioavailable, small molecule
inhibitor of the cMET receptor tyrosine kinase.
The Phase I clinical trials are open-label, dose escalation
studies of SGX523 administered orally to patients with advanced
cancer who have either failed standard therapy or for whom no
standard therapy exists. The studies are designed to explore two
dosing regimens in parallel. The continuous dosing trial will
have continuous uninterrupted twice daily dosing with patients
being evaluated every 28 days for continuation of treatment. The
intermittent dosing schedule will implement twice daily dosing
on a 14 days on/7 days off therapy schedule, cycling every 21
days. In both protocols, patients may continue on therapy for up
to 12 months as determined by the patient's response and
tolerance to SGX523.
"SGX523 is our first internally discovered clinical candidate.
We are excited to begin studying SGX523 in humans and to achieve
the first of our 2008 clinical development goals," said Mike
Grey, President and Chief Executive Officer of SGX
Pharmaceuticals. "With two separate dosing schedules, we believe
that we will be able to collect important data that could serve
as a basis for future clinical development activities and
position us to capitalize on the evolving cMET opportunity."
About SGX523 and cMET
SGX523 has shown exceptional selectivity for the cMET receptor
tyrosine kinase over more than 200 protein kinases and has
demonstrated both potent in vitro blockage of the activity of
this cancer target and in vivo activity against various types of
human cancer cells that depend on cMET for their uncontrolled
growth and proliferation. The cMET receptor tyrosine kinase has
been implicated in a wide range of cancers, including both solid
and blood tumors. cMET has been extensively studied in the
laboratory environment and, to a lesser extent, in the clinic,
with increasing data suggesting that uncontrolled stimulation of
cMET plays a key role in a variety of effects associated with
cancer, including cellular growth, increased cell movement and
invasion, and an increased ability of cancer cells to
metastasize. Other observations have implicated cMET in
increased angiogenesis. cMET activation has been observed in a
wide range of other cancer types including breast, colon,
prostate, pancreatic and gastric cancers.
About SGX Pharmaceuticals
SGX Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company focused on the
discovery, development and commercialization of innovative
cancer therapeutics. The SGX oncology pipeline includes drug
candidates from its FAST(TM) drug discovery platform, such as
next generation BCR-ABL inhibitors being developed by SGX and in
partnership with Novartis and cMET tyrosine kinase inhibitors,
including SGX523, and JAK2 inhibitors. More information on the
pipeline and drug discovery platform can be found at
http://www.sgxpharma.com and in the Company's various
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly
historical in nature are forward-looking statements. These
statements include, but are not limited to, the potential of
SGX523 as a treatment for certain cancers, the potential outcome
of Phase I clinical studies of SGX523, the role of cMET in
cancer, statements regarding bringing compounds into the clinic
and the ability to discover, develop and commercialize cancer
therapeutics. These statements are only predictions based on
current information and expectations and involve a number of
risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ
materially from those projected in any of such statements due to
various factors, including the risks and uncertainties inherent
in drug discovery, development and commercialization. For a
discussion of these and other factors, please refer to the risk
factors described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006, the Company's quarterly
report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2007, as well as other filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only
as of the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements are qualified in
their entirety by this cautionary statement and SGX undertakes
no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect
events or circumstances after the date hereof.
Source
SGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
http://www.sgxpharma.com
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