OXiGENE Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent for OXi4503 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
May 26 2015 - 4:05PM
OXiGENE, Inc. (Nasdaq:OXGN), a biopharmaceutical company developing
novel therapies for the treatment of cancer, today announced that
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted it a patent (U.S.
Patent No. 9,040,500) related to the use of OXi4503 for the
treatment of myeloid neoplasms, including acute myeloid leukemia
(AML).
"The granting of this U.S. patent is a notable achievement for
OXiGENE and strengthens our program in AML, a potential orphan
indication for which there is a great unmet need," said Bill
Schwieterman, M.D., OXiGENE's President and CEO. "We are looking
forward to starting a new company-sponsored Phase 1/2 clinical
study of OXi4503 for this indication later this year, as we work to
advance and strengthen our clinical pipeline."
OXi4503 (combretastatin A1 di-phosphate) is a dual mechanism
vascular disrupting agent (VDA) that has been observed to block and
destroy tumor vasculature, resulting in extensive tumor cell death
and necrosis. OXi4503 combines a VDA mechanism with cytotoxic
activity. It is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1
investigator-sponsored study at the University of Florida in
patients with relapsed and refractory AML and myelodysplastic
syndrome (MDS). The study is also sponsored in part by The Leukemia
& Lymphoma Society's Therapy Acceleration Program. OXiGENE is
planning to initiate a Phase 1/2 trial of OXi4503 in patients with
AML and MDS later this year.
About OXiGENE
OXiGENE is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing
novel therapies for the treatment of cancer. The company is focused
on developing vascular disrupting agents (VDAs), which are
compounds that selectively disrupt abnormal blood vessels
associated with solid tumor survival and progression. The company's
lead clinical product candidate, fosbretabulin, is in development
as a potential treatment for solid tumors. OXi4503, its second
product candidate, is in development for acute myeloid leukemia
(AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). OXiGENE is dedicated to
leveraging its intellectual property and therapeutic development
expertise to bring life-extending and life-enhancing medicines to
patients.
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Any or all of the forward-looking statements in this press
release, which include the timing of advancement, outcomes, and
regulatory guidance relative to our clinical programs, achievement
of our business and financing objectives may turn out to be wrong.
Forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate
assumptions OXiGENE might make or by known or unknown risks and
uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the inherent risks of
drug development and regulatory review, and the availability of
additional financing to continue development of our programs.
Additional information concerning factors that could cause
actual results to materially differ from those in the
forward-looking statements is contained in OXiGENE's reports to the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including OXiGENE's reports on
Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. However, OXiGENE undertakes no obligation
to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether because of
new information, future events or otherwise. Please refer to our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2014.
CONTACT: Investor and Media Contact:
ir@oxigene.com
650-635-7000