Zenith Epigenetics Announces a Publication Highlighting the Role of ZEN-3694 in Overcoming Resistance to Therapies in Metasta...
June 24 2021 - 8:00AM
Zenith Capital Corp. (“Zenith” or the “Company”), a clinical stage
pharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel
epigenetic combination therapies for the treatment of cancers,
announces the publication of an important study which has uncovered
the role of ZEN-3694, a BET bromodomain inhibitor (BETi), in
overcoming the resistance of metastatic castration resistant
prostate cancer (mCRPC) to androgen receptor signaling inhibitors
(ARSi). The study, led by a team of renowned prostate cancer
researchers, has been published in Clinical Cancer Research, a high
impact journal.
The study demonstrated that mCRPC, when treated
with ARSi, can switch its lineage from adenocarcinoma to a more
aggressive neuroendocrine type which is less dependent on androgen
receptor signaling. This treatment induced neuroendocrine prostate
cancer is becoming more prevalent with increasing use of ARSis and
is associated with very poor patient clinical outcomes. ZEN-3694
inhibits BRD4 and E2F1 which epigenetically regulate this lineage
switch. Blocking BET bromodomain proteins in cell models stopped
the activation of this program that drives the development of
neuroendocrine prostate tumors, the research team found.
Furthermore, this was supported by clinical data from ZEN-3694
Phase 1b/2a mCRPC study which showed that ZEN-3694 was most
effective in patients whose tumors were less dependent on androgen
receptor signaling and did not respond to prior ARSi. High
expression of BRD4 and E2F1 were also observed in the tumors of two
patients with treatment emergent neuroendocrine prostate cancer,
and both patients had a response to ZEN-3694 + enzalutamide,
consistent with the role of ZEN-3694 in overcoming resistance to
ARSi in this aggressive form of prostate cancer.
“This was an important study which highlights
the role of ZEN-3694 in the treatment of mCRPC,” said Donald
McCaffrey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith. “ARSis
are the cornerstone therapy for advanced prostate cancer but almost
all patients ultimately become resistant. There is a particularly
significant unmet need in mCRPC patients who do not respond to an
ARSi and their current treatment options only include cytotoxic
therapy with considerable side effects. Our upcoming Phase 2b mCRPC
study will be evaluating the efficacy of ZEN-3694+ enzalutamide in
this group of patients. The aforementioned publication provides
additional rationale for this well-designed study.”
About prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the second most commonly
diagnosed cancer among men and the fifth most common cause of male
cancer death worldwide. Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is dependent
on androgen for tumor progression and depleting or blocking
androgen action has been a mainstay for over six decades. Although
tumors are often initially sensitive to medical or surgical
therapies that decrease levels of testosterone, the treatment of
prostate cancer patients has evolved rapidly over the past ten
years with second generation ARSis. Despite these advances, many
patients with mCRPC fail or develop resistance to existing
treatments, leading to low survival rates.
About Zenith
Zenith Capital Corp. is a biotechnology
investment company originally spun out of Resverlogix Corp. (TSX:
RVX) in 2013. Zenith Epigenetics Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Zenith Capital Corp., is a clinical stage biotechnology company
focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for
the treatment of cancer and other disorders with significant unmet
medical need. Zenith Epigenetics is developing various novel
combinations of BET inhibitors with other targeted agents. The lead
compound, ZEN-3694, is in clinical development for:
- mCRPC in combination with androgen receptor inhibitor, XTANDI,
with Astellas and Newsoara as collaborators
- Triple Negative Breast Cancer in combination with the PARP
inhibitor TALZENNA with Pfizer as a collaborator
- Androgen receptor independent mCRPC
in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitor KEYTRUDA and XTANDI
with University of California, San Francisco as a collaborator
For further information, please contact:Investor Relations &
Communications
Zenith EpigeneticsPhone: 587-390-7865Email:
info@zenithepigenetics.comWebsite: www.zenithepigenetics.com
This news release may contain certain
forward-looking information as defined under applicable Canadian
securities legislation, that are not based on historical fact,
including without limitation statements containing the words
"believes", "anticipates", "plans", "intends", "will", "should",
"expects", "continue", "estimate", "forecasts" and other similar
expressions. In particular, this news release includes forward
looking information relating to the Company’s upcoming Phase 2b
study to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of ZEN-3694 and
enzalutamide relative to single agent enzalutamide in mCRPC
patients who have progressed on a prior ARSi, the Company’s
development of ZEN-3694 and its potential role in the treatment of
cancer and other disorders. Our actual results, events or
developments could be materially different from those expressed or
implied by these forward-looking statements. We can give no
assurance that any of the events or expectations will occur or be
realized. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject
to numerous assumptions and risk factors including those discussed
in our most recent MD&A which are incorporated herein by
reference and are available through SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The
forward-looking statements contained in this news release are
expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and are made as of
the date hereof. Zenith disclaims any intention and has no
obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update
or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise.
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