Qualigen Therapeutics Announces Three Published Abstracts at American Association of Cancer Research Conference
March 22 2022 - 9:15AM
Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: QLGN), a biotechnology company
focused on developing treatments for adult and pediatric cancers
with potential for Orphan Drug Designation, while also
commercializing diagnostics, today provides data from published
abstracts from the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR)
demonstrating positive in vivo data on the Company’s lead compound
QN-302 (previously known and referenced in the abstracts as
SOP1812).
QN-302 is the Company’s genomic quadruplex
(G4)-selective transcription inhibitor being developed as a
potential treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), in
addition to other tumors of high unmet clinical need. The abstracts
accepted by AACR outline the potential binding to a quadruplex
target for the compound, as well as significant anti-tumor activity
in relevant animal models.
“These data represent an important step forward
in our lead development program, QN-302, particularly with regard
to pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer,” commented Michael
Poirier, Qualigen’s CEO. “The presentation of these data at AACR
shows promising information regarding the key properties of this
therapeutic target.”
“The potent quadruplex-binding
compound SOP1812 shows
anti-tumor activity in
patient-derived in
vivo models of
pancreatic
cancer” (lead author Dr. Stephen
Neidle, to be posted April 13). These abstract reports that QN-302
showed significant anti-tumor activity in three patient-derived
xenograft (PDX) models for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
One model is from a primary PDAC tumor at stage I, and the two
others are from patients with stage IV PDAC”. Transcriptome studies
on cellular responses to QN-302 previously demonstrated that
expression of several oncogenes and their signaling pathways
are down-regulated by this agent. This supports the hypothesis that
the mechanism of action of QN-302 in vivo involves targeting of
quadruplex-containing genes, which is also corroborated by the PDX
data since these tumors have elevated levels of several
quadruplex-containing genes previously identified in cells and in
vivo. QN-302 is bio-available at proposed therapeutic doses and has
been shown to be well tolerated at these levels in animal
models.
“The potent
quadruplex-binding compound
SOP 1812 shows potent
anti-proliferative activity in a prostate cancer cell panel and
anti-tumor activity in
an in
vivo model of
metastatic prostate cancer” (lead author Dr Stephen
Neidle, to be posted April 13). In this study, the authors
evaluated the activity of QN-302 in the PC3 xenograft model using a
twice-weekly 1 mg/kg dose regimen intravenously administered
against control and the established prostate cancer drug
abiraterone, at a daily dose of 200 mg/kg, administered by the oral
route, both over a 28-day period. No weight loss was observed in
treated animals with either drug. QN-302 produced statistically
significant tumor shrinkage (p=0.0008) relative to the control. The
study authors concluded that QN-302 was bio-available at
therapeutic doses and was well tolerated at these levels in this
animal model.
“Structure-based design of
quadruplex-binding small molecule compounds: The essential role of
water molecules” (lead author Dr Stephen Neidle, to be
posted April 11), describes the design of the compound QN-302
targeted against human DNA quadruplexes by means of computer
modelling. This was based on co-crystal structures of
1st-generation substituted naphthalene diimides with human
intramolecular telomeric quadruplexes. The abstract further
describes the optimization of an existing naphthalene diimide
compound leading to QN-302, which has single-digit 1-20 nM
anti-proliferative activity in a panel of human pancreatic ductal
adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell lines.
The AACR Conference, being held in New Orleans
from April 8-13, 2022, is a focal point of the scientific cancer
community where scientists, clinicians, other health care
professionals, survivors, and patients review the latest advances
in cancer science and medicine.
About Qualigen
Therapeutics, Inc.
Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. is a diversified
life sciences company focused on developing treatments for cancer,
as well as maintaining and expanding its core FDA-cleared FastPack®
System, which has been used successfully in diagnostics for over 20
years. Our investigational QN-302 compound is a small molecule
selective transcription inhibitor with strong binding affinity to
G4s prevalent in cancer cells; such binding could, by stabilizing
the G4s against “unwinding,” help inhibit cancer cell
proliferation. Our investigational QN-247 compound inhibits
nucleolin, a key multi-functional regulatory protein that is
overexpressed in cancer cells; QN-247 may thereby be able to
inhibit the cells’ proliferation. QN-247 has shown promise in
preclinical studies for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia
(AML). The investigational compounds within Qualigen’s RAS-F family
of RAS oncogene protein-protein interaction inhibitor small
molecules are believed to inhibit or block the binding of mutated
RAS genes’ proteins to their effector proteins, thereby leaving the
proteins from the mutated RAS unable to cause further harm. In
theory, such mechanism of action may be effective in the treatment
of about one quarter of all cancers, including certain forms of
pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers. In addition to its
oncology drug pipeline, Qualigen has an established diagnostics
business which manufactures and distributes proprietary and highly
accurate rapid blood testing systems to physician offices and small
hospitals for the management of prostate cancer and other diseases
and health conditions.
For more information about Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc., please
visit www.qualigeninc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking
statements by Qualigen that involve risks and uncertainties and
reflect the Company's judgment as of the date of this release.
These statements include those related to the Company's prospects
and strategy for the development of therapeutic drug candidates.
Actual events or results may differ from the Company's
expectations. For example, there can be no assurance that the
Company will successfully develop any drugs (including QN-302,
QN-247 and RAS-F); that preclinical development of the Company's
drugs (including QN-302, QN-247 and RAS-F, and the deprioritized
infectious-disease drug candidate QN-165) will be completed on any
projected timeline or will be successful; that any clinical trials
will be approved to begin by or will proceed as contemplated by any
projected timeline, or at all; that any future clinical trial data
will be favorable or that such trials will confirm any improvements
over other products or lack negative impacts; that any drugs will
receive required regulatory approvals (or Fast Track designation or
Orphan Drug status) or that they will be commercially successful;
that patents will issue on the Company's owned and in-licensed
patent applications; that such patents, if any, and the Company's
currently owned and in-licensed patents would prevent competition;
that the Company will be able to procure or earn sufficient working
capital to complete the development, testing and launch of the
Company's prospective therapeutic products (including QN-302,
QN-247 and RAS-F, and QN-165); or that the Company will be able to
maintain or expand market demand and/or market share for the
Company's diagnostic products. The Company's stock price could be
harmed if any of the events or trends contemplated by the
forward-looking statements fails to occur or is delayed or if any
actual future event otherwise differs from expectations. Additional
information concerning these and other risk factors affecting the
Company's business can be found in the Company's prior filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent
Form 10-K, all of which are available at www.sec.gov.
The Company disclaims any intent or obligation
to update these forward-looking statements beyond the date of this
news release, except as required by law. This caution is made under
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995.
Contact:
Jules AbrahamJQA Partners, Inc.917-885-7378
jabraham@jqapartners.com
Source: Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc.
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