KZIA Kazia Therapeutics Ltd

ASX RELEASE

Novogen acquires new technology to add to its oncology drug pipeline

9   October   2013,   Sydney   Australia:   Novogen   Limited   (ASX:NRT)   has   acquired   a   novel   drug

technology that will be developed as a potentially major class of cancer drugs known as anti-

tropomyosins   (anti-Tms).   Anti-Tm   drugs   will   join   the   Company ’ s   growing   pipeline   of   super-

benzopyran drugs, including Trilexium and related analogs.

The   target   of   anti-Tm   drugs   is   the   protein,   Tm5NM1,   an   integral   part   of   the   microfilament

component   of   the   cytoskeleton   of   a   cell.   Inhibition   of   Tm5NM1   effectively   blocks   the   ability

of a cancer cell to function and to divide.

The   cytoskeleton   is   so-called   because   it   gives   a   cell   its   shape   and   form,   but   more   relevantly

serves   a   wide   range   of   functions   that   actively   contribute   to   the   ability   of   a   cell   to   survive,   to

move, and to divide.

Drugs   that   target   the   cytoskeleton   are   highly   effective   anti-cancer   drugs,   mainly   because

they   block   the   ability   of   the   cytoskeleton   to   prepare   the   cell   for   division.   After   four   decades

they   still   remain   among   the   most   commonly   prescribed   chemotherapeutics.   These   include

the   taxanes   (paclitaxel,   docetaxel)   and   the   vinca   alkaloids   (vincristine,   vinblastine).   Despite

their  common  use  and  relative  effectiveness,  they  bear  a  number  of  negative  features

including   (a)   non-specific   activity   against   the   cytoskeleton   of   non-cancer   cells   resulting   in   a

range   of   serious   side-effects,   (b)   limited   or   no   effectiveness   against   many   types   of   cancer,

and  (c)  the   rapid  ability   of  the  cancer  cell  to  develop  resistance.   The  taxanes  and  vinca

alkaloids are both off-patent.

The   taxanes   and   vinca   alkaloids   target   that   part   of   the   cytoskeleton   known   as   microtubules.

There   is   a   second   component   of   the   cytoskeleton   that,   while   an   obvious   anti-cancer   drug

target,   has   to   date   successfully   resisted   drug   development.   That   component   is   the

microfilament,   a   series   of   filaments   made   up   of   inter-woven   strands   of   two   proteins,   actin

and tropomyosin. Drugs   directed against   the microfilaments   have   been too toxic   to consider

using   because   of   the   key   role   of   microfilaments   in   muscle   contraction,   with   muscle   cells   in

the diaphragm and the heart being adversely affected.

This roadblock   has   been overcome with two   breakthroughs   by   Australian scientists   in recent

years.   The   first   is   that   tropomyosins   are   distinguishable   as   muscle   or   non-muscle   varieties.

The   second   is   that   one   particular   form   of   non-muscle   tropomyosin,   known   as   Tm5NM1,   is

restricted largely to cancer cells and is critical to the survival of the cancer cell.

The   private   Australian   biotechnology   company,   Genscreen   Pty   Ltd,   has   developed   extensive

intellectual   property   in   the   field   of   drug   design   targeting   the   Tm5NM1   protein.   Laboratory

and   animal   studies   have   confirmed   the   anti-cancer   effect   and   safety   of   this   drug   target.

Novogen   has   acquired   the   technology   from   Genscreen   in   a   transaction   based   on   a   royalty

payment of product sales, with no upfront or milestone fees.

"This    anti-tropomyosin    drug    technology    perfectly    complements    Novogen ’ s    super-

benzopyran    drug    technology    in    our    quest    to    deliver    comprehensive    anti-cancer    drug

therapy. Our super-benzopyran family of drugs are highly effective against cancer stem cells,

a    basic    requirement    of    successful    longer    term    cancer    therapy, ”    said    Novogen    CEO,    Dr

Graham Kelly.

“ But   we   still   need   to   eliminate   all   cancer   cells   and   that   is   where   the   potential   potency   of   an

anti-tropomyosin   drug   comes   in.   Rather   than   relying   on   a   blend   of   super-benzopyran   drugs

and    currently    available    standard    therapy    to    achieve    across-the-board  eradication  of    all

cancer   cells,   the   anti-Tm   drugs   now   give   us   the   opportunity   to   own   the   full   complement   of

effective drugs, Kelly added"

Ian  Dixon,    CEO    of  Genscreen,    said,    "we    have    always    seen    the    anti-Tms    as  an  obvious

replacement   for   taxanes,   one   of   the   largest-selling   class   of   anti-cancer   drugs   that   are   now

off   patent.   But   unlike   the   taxanes,   we   see   the   anti-Tms   as   having   so   much   less   toxicity,   plus

being   more   broadly   active,   including   against   cancers   such   as   melanoma   that   taxanes   have

little   effect against.   We   are pleased to   put   the   technology   into   the   hands   of a Company   with

the enthusiasm and expertise to see its potential realised."

Novogen    will    undertake    a    program    to    identify    lead    compounds,    with    prostate    cancer,

melanoma and neuroblastoma the nominal targets.

About Novogen

Novogen   Ltd   is   a   public   Australian   biotechnology   company   whose   shares   trade   on   both   the

Australian   Stock   Exchange   (symbol   ‘ NRT ’ )   and   NASDAQ   (symbol   ‘ NVGN ’ ).   The   Company   is

based   in Sydney,   Australia, with an office   in   Ithaca,   NY,   USA. The   Company   is focused on the

development   of   drug   strategies   that   will   deliver   personalized   chemotherapy   based   on   the

effective    elimination    of    cancer    stem    cells    and    somatic    cancer    cells    across    a    range    of

genotypes.

Further information

Contact Dr Graham Kelly, Chief Executive Officer.

Tel: 61 2 9476 0344

Fax: 61 2 9476 0388

Mobile: (61) 0429 854 390

16-20 Edgeworth David Ave  Hornsby  NSW 2077  AUSTRALIA

PO Box 2333 Hornsby Westfield  NSW  1635   AUSTRALIA

Email: Graham.Kelly@novogen.com

Further information is available on the Company ’ s web site, www.novogen.com