HOUSTON, April 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Moleculin
Biotech, Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) ("Moleculin" or the "Company"), a
clinical stage pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of
drug candidates targeting highly resistant tumors, today announced
that preclinical data supporting activity of its STAT3-inhibiting
Immune/Transcription Modulators was presented by Dr. Waldemar Priebe, Founder and Chair of the
Scientific Advisory Board of Moleculin, Inc. at the 2019 Annual
Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research ("AACR") in
Atlanta, GA.
Please click the link below to view the Abstract for
WP1066 and WP1732.
AACR Abstract:
https://www.moleculin.com/inhibition-of-stat3-in-pancreatic-ductal-adenocarcinoma-and-immunotherapeutic-implications/
The presentation included data resulting from preclinical
evaluation in pancreatic cancer models of STAT3 inhibitors WP1066
and WP1732, both discovered at The University
of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and licensed by
Moleculin. WP1066 is an orally bioavailable drug with significant
brain uptake that is currently in Phase I clinical studies in
patients with brain tumors. Complementary to WP1066, STAT3
inhibitor WP1732 is suitable for IV administration and demonstrates
high uptake by the pancreas without uptake to the brain. In vitro
efficacy of both inhibitors was assessed using proliferation and
apoptosis induction assays in a panel of patient-derived and
commercially-available Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma ("PDAC")
cell lines. Both WP1066 and WP1732 were similarly potent and
shown to induce apoptosis and inhibit p-STAT3 and its nuclear
localization in all tested PDAC cell lines. Observed IC50 values
ranged from 0.5 to 2 μM. WP1732 was well tolerated by mice (LD50 85
mg/kg given IV). Pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies
revealed very high uptake of WP1732 in the pancreas of mice and
rats exceeding up to ~30 fold more than the drug levels in plasma.
Importantly, both agents show in-vivo efficacy in preliminary
experiments when tested alone or in combination with T cell immune
checkpoint inhibitors.
The presentation concluded that WP1066 and WP1732 are inhibitors
of p-STAT3 with demonstrated in vitro and in-vivo activity against
PDAC tumor models, and that preliminary data warrant the further
pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of these oncology agents alone
and in combination with immunotherapy as promising new therapeutics
for pancreatic cancer.
"The scientific community has been increasingly focused on
inhibition of p-STAT3 as a new area for developing cancer
therapies," commented Walter Klemp,
Moleculin's Chairman and CEO. "Our Immune/Transcription
Modulators have a unique ability to both inhibit p-STAT3 and other
key oncogenic transcription factors and to stimulate a natural
immune response. We believe available preclinical data and the
data presented at this AACR Conference form a solid basis to pursue
translational efforts for pancreatic cancer as one of our primary
indications."
About Moleculin Biotech, Inc.
Moleculin Biotech, Inc. is a clinical stage pharmaceutical
company focused on the development of oncology drug candidates, all
of which are based on discoveries made at M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center. The Company's clinical stage drugs are Annamycin, an
anthracycline designed to avoid multidrug resistance mechanisms
with little to no cardiotoxicity being studied for the treatment of
relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia, more commonly
referred to as AML, and WP1066, an immuno-stimulating STAT3
inhibitor targeting brain tumors, pancreatic cancer and AML.
Moleculin Biotech is also engaged in preclinical development of
additional drug candidates, including additional STAT3 inhibitors
and compounds targeting the metabolism of tumors.
For more information about the Company, please visit
http://www.moleculin.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this release are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve
risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press
release include, without limitation, the ability of WP1066 and
WP1732 to show safety and efficacy in patients. Although Moleculin
Biotech believes that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made,
expectations may prove to have been materially different from the
results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Moleculin Biotech has attempted to identify forward-looking
statements by terminology including ''believes,'' ''estimates,''
''anticipates,'' ''expects,'' ''plans,'' ''projects,'' ''intends,''
''potential,'' ''may,'' ''could,'' ''might,'' ''will,'' ''should,''
''approximately'' or other words that convey uncertainty of future
events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements.
These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those discussed
under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our most recently filed Form 10-K
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and
updated from time to time in our Form 10-Q filings and in our other
public filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements
contained in this release speak only as of its date. We undertake
no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in
this release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its
date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Contacts
Joe Dorame,
Robert Blum or Joe Diaz
Lytham Partners, LLC
602-889-9700
mbrx@lythampartners.com
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moleculin-announces-preclinical-pancreatic-cancer-data-presented-at-american-association-for-cancer-research-annual-meeting-300823606.html
SOURCE Moleculin Biotech, Inc.