Corporate | 26 May 2009 08:00
4SC AG / Miscellaneous
Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP – a company of EquityStory
AG.
The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
———————————————————————-
– Data reveals stable disease in multiple cancer indications –
Planegg-Martinsried, May 26, 2009 – 4SC AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard:
VSC) the German drug discovery and development company, in conjunction with
Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, England, today announced that it will
present Phase I data on 4SC-201, an innovative histone deacetylase (HDAC)
inhibitor, at the 45th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical
Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando, Florida, USA, from May 29 to June 2, 2009. The
Phase I data, generated in advanced solid tumors will form the basis of
4SC’s drug development program in oncology.
In the Phase I trial, 4SC 201 was orally administered to 18 patients and
was applied in therapy cycles, consisting of a once daily oral dose over
five consecutive days, followed by a nine day treatment free period. The
resulting 14 day cycle (5 + 9) was repeated four times in the main part of
the trial. The daily doses tested in this trial ranged from 100 mg to 800
mg, all of which were generally well tolerated. Patients who benefitted
from treatment with 4SC-201 were offered the option of a follow-up
treatment beyond the first four cycles. Three patients with stable disease
entered this follow-up treatment phase, of which two continued therapy over
seven and 19 cycles respectively. The third, an advanced liposarcoma
patient, remains stable and has now been on treatment for over a year
(currently cycle 28) at the 400 mg daily dose, thereby indicating exciting
anti-tumor activity and valuable additional long-term safety data for
4SC-201.
Stable disease according to RECIST was observed in 11 of 18 patients. Of
these 11 patients, eight were treated at the two highest dose levels (600
mg and 800 mg oral daily dose), suggesting a correlation between dose and
disease stabilization. The degree of HDAC enzyme inhibition was also
dose-dependent and ranged from 50% to 100%. The complete block of these
target enzymes was reached at the 400 mg dose level and higher. A favorable
pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of 4SC-201 was observed with
dose-proportionality, high plasma exposure and low inter-subject
variability, indicating good bioavailability of the compound. Based on
these Phase I results, the recommended Phase II dosing of 4SC-201 as
monotherapy treatment will be 600 mg orally once-daily, given in a ‘5 + 9’
dosing schedule.
Dr Bernd Hentsch, Chief Development Officer at 4SC commented, ‘We are very
excited about the Phase I results of 4SC-201, an innovative HDAC inhibitor.
In addition, it is very encouraging to see that one patient has now
completed one year of treatment and remains stable. We look forward to
commencing our Phase II trial of 4SC-201 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
in the second half of this year and continue to evaluate an additional
indication for a further trial this year’.
Details of the ASCO poster presentation
Abstract #3530 (Temp. Abst. ID: 33511)
A first-in-human Phase I study of 4SC-201, an oral histone deacetylase
(HDAC) inhibitor, in patients with solid tumors
Session date and time: 05/29/2009, 2:00PM – 6:00PM
Session title: Developmental Therapeutics: Molecular Therapeutics
Session type: Poster Discussion
Poster Presenter: Dr A.T. Brunetto (Phase I Co-Investigator)
Notes to Editor
About 4SC-201
4SC-201 is an innovative substance from the histone deacetylase (HDAC)
class of inhibitors (former designation BYK408740). The candidate has shown
a promising pharmacokinetic profile upon oral application in a Phase I
trial in multiple cancers. In addition, an encouraging safety and efficacy
profile has been observed in multiple pre-clinical models. 4SC is planning
to develop 4SC-201 for the treatment of a number of solid tumors, with a
Phase II trial in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) planned in 2009.
About 4SC
4SC AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: VSC/ISIN DE0005753818) is a drug
discovery and development company focused on autoimmune and cancer
indications. The company currently has three clinical programs, with three
further clinical trials planned in 2009. The lead autoimmune compound,
4SC-101, has completed a Phase IIa trial in Rheumatoid Arthritis, and
recently entered a Phase IIa trial in Morbus Crohn’s. The lead oncology
compound, 4SC-201, recently completed a Phase I trial in multiple cancer
indications and will commence a Phase II trial in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
(HCC) in the second half of 2009. Drug candidates are developed until
proof of concept and subsequently partnered with the pharmaceutical
industry in return for advance and milestone payments
as well as royalties.
4SC was founded in 1997, has 90 employees, and was listed on the Prime
Standard of Frankfurt Stock Exchange in December 2005.
Further information, please visit www.4sc.com.
Legal Note
This document may contain projections or estimates relating to plans and
objectives relating to our future operations, products, or services; future
financial results; or assumptions underlying or relating to any such
statements; each of which constitutes a forward-looking statement subject
to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Actual
results could differ materially, depending on a number of factors.
For more information please contact
4SC AG
Bernd Hentsch, Chief Development Officer
Yvonne Alexander, IR & PR
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 70 07 63 0
MC Services (Germany/Switzerland)
Stefan Riedel
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 21 02 28 40
The Trout Group (USA)
Chad Rubin
Tel.: +1 646 378 2947
26.05.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP
———————————————————————-
Language: English
Issuer: 4SC AG
Am Klopferspitz 19a
82152 Martinsried
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)89 7007 63-0
Fax: +49 (0)89 7007 63-29
E-mail: public@4sc.com
Internet: www.4sc.de
ISIN: DE0005753818
WKN: 575381
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
—————————————————————————