Corporate | 15 July 2013 07:30
|
4SC AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous
Press Release 4SC expands patent protection for its epigenetic anti-cancer compound 4SC-202 in the USA, China and Hong Kong Planegg-Martinsried, Germany, 15 July 2013 – 4SC AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: VSC), a discovery and development company of targeted small molecule drugs for autoimmune diseases and cancer, today announced that the company has significantly expanded international patent protection for 4SC-202, its second epigenetic anti-cancer compound. The oral agent 4SC-202 – a selective inhibitor of HDAC1, 2, and 3 – inhibits the cellular signal transduction pathways Hedgehog and Wnt which play a key role in cancer development and progression. The compound is currently being clinically investigated in a Phase I trial involving patients with haematological tumours. The results from this trial are expected to be available in the second half of 2013. While the composition-of-matter patent for 4SC-202 was granted in China, granting is imminent in Hong Kong, according to the patent authorities. The patents cover the composition of matter of the 4SC-202 compound itself, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound, and its therapeutic use in cancer and in other therapeutic areas. After having obtained the composition-of-matter patent for 4SC-202 in the United States, the world’s largest pharmaceutical market, 4SC has now received a ‘notification of allowance’ for the patent from the US Patent and Trademark Office covering certain salts of 4SC-202, among them tosylate salt. This will enable 4SC to significantly extend the duration of patent protection for 4SC-202 in the United States. With sales of prescription drugs exceeding USD 279 billion, the USA are by far the world’s largest pharmaceutical market. According the the IMS Health information service, China is already the world’s third-largest market for pharmaceuticals behind the USA and Japan with an overall volume of around USD 50 billion. Analysts forecast strong annual growth of between 18% and 25% for the sector in China by 2020. Furthermore, the oncology market in Asia will see particularly strong growth and therefore become increasingly important for the development and marketing of innovative cancer drugs such as 4SC-202.Today, nearly half of all new cancer cases worldwide already occur in Asia. ‘Strengthening patent protection for our innovative anti-cancer compound 4SC-202 in the key markets of the United States and China underscores the development strategy for 4SC-202,’ commented Enno Spillner, CEO of 4SC AG. ‘In achieving this enhanced protection, we further strengthen our position as a leading biotech company in epigenetic cancer drugs.’ Enno Spillner continued: ‘Alongside our epigenetic value driver resminostat, 4SC-202 is the second promising epigenetic anti-cancer compound we have in clinical development. While our primary focus with resminostat is achieving market approval for the compound in combination therapy with conventional anti-cancer drugs for solid tumours such as liver cancer, we believe 4SC-202’s mechanism of action gives it major potential as a standalone treatment for haematological tumours, whose development and progression depends heavily on the Hedgehog and Wnt signalling pathways, which are of great therapeutic interest.’
Ends
In addition to resminostat, 4SC-202 is 4SC’s second epigenetic drug candidate in clinical development. 4SC-202 is an orally administered selective inhibitor of HDAC1, 2, and 3 with a unique combination of anti-cancer mode of actions, namely epigenetic regulation and targeting of cancer stem cells. 4SC-202 has been shown to inhibit the Hedgehog and Wnt signalling pathways in cancer cells via epigenetic modifications, thereby provoking the inhibition of properties of cancer stem cells. The Hedgehog and Wnt signalling pathways play an important role in cancer development and progression. Currently 4SC-202, which has already shown good efficacy in preclinical in vivo models, is being investigated in a Phase I clinical study in patients with advanced haematological tumours. About 4SC The Group managed by 4SC AG (ISIN DE0005753818) discovers and develops targeted, small-molecule drugs for treating diseases with high unmet medical needs in cancer and autoimmune indications. These drugs are intended to provide innovative treatment options that are more tolerable and efficacious than existing therapies, and provide a better quality of life. The Company’s pipeline comprises promising products that are in various stages of clinical development. 4SC’s aim is to generate future growth and enhance its enterprise value by entering into partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Founded in 1997, 4SC had 83 employees at 30 June 2013. 4SC AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since December 2005.
Legal Note
For more information please visit www.4sc.com or contact:
4SC AG
MC Services
The Trout Group (USA)
End of Corporate News 15.07.2013 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP – a company of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. DGAP’s Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de |
| Language: | English | |
| Company: | 4SC AG | |
| Am Klopferspitz 19a | ||
| 82152 Martinsried | ||
| Germany | ||
| 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 |
|
|
| 220955 15.07.2013 |