Arno Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB:ARNI), a clinical stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of oncology
therapeutics, today announced that it has signed an exclusive,
worldwide license agreement with the University of Minnesota for
technology related to a gene expression signature derived from
archived breast cancer tissue samples. This technique has the
potential to identify progesterone-stimulated pathway activation
and in turn, help identify patients who would most likely benefit
from treatment with Arno's lead compound, onapristone, an
anti-progestin therapeutic aimed at treatment of men's and women's
cancers.
Glenn Mattes, Chief Executive Officer of Arno Therapeutics,
remarked, "Our agreement with the University of Minnesota offers
Arno a strategic partnership with a leading academic institution
and innovator in research, education and patient care in the
oncology space. This technology gives Arno an additional platform
for identifying patients with cancer who would most likely benefit
from our personalized therapy."
The principal objective of gene expression studies is to
identify one or more gene signatures in breast and other tumor
types, genes whose transcriptional levels are uniquely associated
with a specific biological phenotype.i Ideally, this gene
signature, which indicates the presence of aberrant progesterone
receptor activity, can then be used to select a patient population
with cancer that are more likely to benefit from anti-progestin
therapy.
Onapristone is an oral, anti-progestin hormone blocker that has
been shown in previous Phase II clinical trials to exhibit
anti-tumor activity in patients with breast cancer. In pre-clinical
testing, onapristone has been shown to block the activation of the
progesterone receptor (PR), which is believed to be a mechanism
that inhibits the growth of APR-driven breast, endometrial and
other tumors. Tests for the activated form of the progesterone
receptor (APR) have the potential to function as a biomarker of
anti-progestin activity, as detected by a companion diagnostic
under development. Onapristone is currently being evaluated in a
phase I clinical trial in women who have progesterone receptor
expressing tumors in France.
Under the agreement, negotiated through the University's Office
for Technology Commercialization, with the University of Minnesota,
Arno will further develop the PR gene signature as a potentially
predictive companion diagnostic for anti-progestins, including
onapristone. The agreement enables the potential of incorporating
such a companion diagnostic test into ongoing and future clinical
studies of onapristone.
Carol Lange, PhD, Professor of Medicine, University of
Minnesota, commented, "As progesterone receptors are implicated in
cancer progression, we are excited by the possible outcomes
resulting from investigation of the PR gene signature in breast
cancer tissue samples, as illustrated by the expression pattern.
The study of this gene signature may enable better, more targeted
selection of patient candidates who will benefit most from
anti-progestin therapeutics such as onapristone. We believe that
the advent of personalized medicine in oncology represents a
meaningful advancement in the area of cancer therapeutics.
Onapristone is specifically aimed at targeting the aberrant actions
of progesterone receptors. The potential development of a companion
diagnostic for Arno's lead compound from this technology represents
a significant step forward in our ability to truly realize the
potential of personalized medicine."
David M. Jackson, Vice President, Diagnostics of Arno
Therapeutics, noted, "Onapristone, a member of the class of
anti-progestins, has the distinct ability to block the activation
of the progesterone receptor. We believe this license agreement
will enable Arno's diagnostic strategy to identify and develop
multiple analytical methods to identify those patients whose tumors
are APR-positive and may therefore benefit from targeted
onapristone therapy."
About the University of
Minnesota Founded in 1851, the University of
Minnesota is a land-grant institution, committed to illuminating
and engaging Minnesota and other communities to advance
interdisciplinary knowledge and benefit society; enhance students'
academic, civic, career, social and personal development; and
engage intellectual and human capital to serve the public good.
Ranked consistently among the top public research universities
nationally, it is also among the country's most comprehensive
institutions.
About the Office for Technology
Commercialization
The Office for Technology Commercialization oversees all aspects
of technology commercialization at the University of
Minnesota. Its mission is to translate University research
into new products and services that provide growth opportunities
for its licensees, benefit the public good, improve the quality of
life and generate revenue to support the University's research and
education goals. Learn more at: research.umn.edu/techcomm.
About Arno Therapeutics
Arno Therapeutics is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company
developing innovative products for the treatment of cancer.
Arno has exclusive worldwide rights to develop and market three
innovative anti-cancer product candidates. These compounds
are in clinical or preclinical development as product candidates to
treat hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. For more
information about the company, please
visit www.arnothera.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that
involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These statements are
often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases
such as "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "believes," "intends,"
and similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements
include, without limitation, statements regarding the potential of
the technology licensed from the University of Minnesota to
identify patients most likely to benefit from onapristone,
statements regarding the timing, progress and anticipated results
of the clinical development of onapristone, the ability of the CDx
under development to help identify patients who are APR positive,
as well as Arno's strategy, future operations, outlook, milestones,
future financial position, future financial results, plans and
objectives. We may not actually achieve these plans, intentions or
expectations and Arno cautions investors not to place undue
reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or
events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and
expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make.
Various important factors could cause actual results or events to
differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make.
Such factors include, among others, risks that the results of
clinical trials will not support our claims or beliefs concerning
the effectiveness of onapristone, the newly-acquire gene expression
signature technology or the CDx to be developed for use with
onapristone, our ability to finance the development of our product
candidates, regulatory risks, and our reliance on third party
researchers and other collaborators. Additional risks are described
in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2012. Arno is providing this information as of the
date of this press release and does not undertake any obligation to
update any forward-looking statements as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
i National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI),
U.S. National Library of Medicine. "GeneSigDB—a curated
database of gene expression signatures." Nucleic Acids Research.
Jan 2010; 38 (Database issue): D716–D725. Published online Nov 24,
2009. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkp1015. Available
online at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2808880/
CONTACT: The Ruth Group
Lee Roth (investors)
lroth@theruthgroup.com
(646) 536-7012
Kirsten Thomas (media)
kthomas@theruthgroup.com
(646) 536-7014
Arno Therapeutics
Glenn Mattes
gm@arnothera.com
(862)-703-7176
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