Avalon Pharmaceuticals to Present at the American Society of Hematology 2006 Annual Meeting
December 04 2006 - 6:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
GERMANTOWN, Md., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avalon
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq and NYSE Arca: AVRX), announced that
it will present pharmacodymanic endpoint data from a phase I study
of AVN944 at the American Society of Hematology's 48th Annual
Meeting to be held on December 9-12, in Orlando. AVN944 is the
Company's lead product candidate for the treatment of hematologic
malignancies. Dr. Jeffrey Strovel, Senior Scientist at Avalon, is
scheduled to discuss the data in a poster presentation titled,
"Genetic and Biochemical Biomarkers of IMPDH Inhibition in Phase I
Dose Escalation of AVN944 for Hematological Malignancies," on
Sunday, December 10, 2006, at 6:00 p.m. EST. In addition to the
phase I objective of defining the maximum tolerated dose of AVN944,
Avalon is examining a comprehensive set of pharmacodynamic
biomarkers using its proprietary gene expression platform,
AvalonRx(R). These markers, previously identified as responsive to
AVN944 exposure in a multitude of laboratory settings, correlate
with biochemical effects of the drug on protein function and
guanine nucleotide levels, and can be used as tools to select the
optimal dose with which to initiate phase II studies. This interim
analysis of the trial data is intended to describe how these
biomarkers correlate with biologic activity of the drug in patients
on study. An abstract of the Presentation is now available on the
ASH website, http://www.hematology.org/. About AVN944 AVN944 is an
oral small molecule drug candidate that inhibits inosine
monosphospate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), an enzyme that is critical for
cells to be able to synthesize guanosine triphosphate (GTP), a
molecule required for DNA synthesis and cellular signaling. IMPDH
is over expressed in some cancer cells, especially in the case of
hematological malignancies. In laboratory experiments, AVN944 has
been shown to inhibit IMPDH activity in cells, and suppress pools
of GTP. Anticancer activities of IMPDH inhibitors correlate with
sustained depletion of GTP pools both in cellular models and in
human subjects. AVN944 appears to have a selective effect on cancer
cells in that deprivation of GTP in normal cells results in a
temporary slowing of cell growth, while GTP deprivation in cancer
cells induces cell death, or apoptosis. Results from preclinical
studies of AVN944 indicate that AVN944 inhibited the proliferation
of lymphoid and myeloid cells, the principal cells involved in the
most common types of human leukemias. In a single-dose,
dose-escalation phase I clinical trial of AVN944 conducted in the
United Kingdom in healthy volunteers, AVN944: (1) was well
tolerated at all tested doses with no notable side effects; (2)
demonstrated good pharmacokinetic properties; and (3) had a
significant inhibitory effect on IMPDH enzyme activity. Avalon
filed an IND with the FDA in August 2005 and initiated U.S. phase I
clinical trials in January 2006 for the treatment of hematological
cancers. About Avalon Pharmaceuticals Avalon Pharmaceuticals is a
biopharmaceutical company using proprietary technology,
AvalonRx(R), to discover and develop cancer therapeutics. Avalon
has a lead product in phase I clinical development (AVN944 - IMPDH
inhibitor); preclinical programs to discover inhibitors for the
Beta-catenin, Aurora and Survivin pathways; and drug discovery
collaborations with MedImmune, Novartis, ChemDiv and Medarex.
Avalon Pharmaceuticals was established in 1999 and is headquartered
in Germantown, Maryland. About AvalonRx(R) AvalonRx(R) is a
comprehensive, innovative and proprietary suite of technologies
based upon large-scale gene expression analysis. This platform
facilitates drug discovery by expanding the range of therapeutic
targets for drug intervention, including targets and target
pathways frequently considered intractable using conventional HTS
approaches, allows more informed decisions about which compounds to
advance towards clinical trials, and facilitates drug development
through identification of biomarkers of efficacy that can stratify
patients or provide early indicators of response. Safe Harbor
Statement This announcement contains, in addition to historical
information, certain forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties, in particular, related to progress in our drug
discovery programs and our collaborations, and clinical progress in
the development of AVN944. Such statements reflect the current
views of Avalon management and are based on certain assumptions.
Actual results could differ materially from those currently
anticipated as a result of a number of factors, risks and
uncertainties including the risk that the discovery programs and
collaborations may not be successful and that AVN944 will not
progress successfully in its clinical trials, and other risks
described in our SEC filings. There can be no assurance that our
development efforts will succeed, that AVN944 will receive required
regulatory clearance or, even if such regulatory clearance is
received, that any subsequent products will ultimately achieve
commercial success. The information in this Release should be read
in conjunction with the Risk Factors set forth in our 2005 Annual
Report on Form 10-K and updates contained in subsequent filings we
make with the SEC. Contacts: Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Noonan
Russo Gary Lessing Wendy Lau (Media) Executive Vice President &
CFO Tel: (212) 845-4272 Tel: (301) 556-9900 Fax: (301) 556-9910 The
Trout Group LLC Email: Chad Rubin (Investors) Tel: (212) 477-9007
ext. 47 DATASOURCE: Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CONTACT: Gary
Lessing, Executive Vice President & CFO of Avalon
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-301-556-9900, Fax: +1-301-556-9910, ; or
Media: Wendy Lau of Noonan Russo, +1-212-845-4272; or Investors:
Chad Rubin of The Trout Group LLC, +1-212-477-9007 ext. 47 Web
site: http://www.hematology.org/
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