Corporate | 30 September 2015 07:30

4SC receives funding from the Eurostars programme for further research of its anti-cancer agents with an epigenetic mode of action

DGAP-News: 4SC AG / Key word(s): Financing/Miscellaneous

2015-09-30 / 07:30

Press Release

4SC receives funding from the Eurostars programme for further research of its anti-cancer agents with an epigenetic mode of action

– Three-year research programme in cooperation with two other European epigenetics companies funded

– 4SC to use funds for additional preclinical research on its clinical epigenetic agents resminostat and 4SC-202, investigating aspects such as immunomodulator potential

Planegg-Martinsried, 30 September 2015 – 4SC AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: VSC), a discovery and development company of targeted small molecule drugs mainly focusing on cancer, today announced the receipt of a grant from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research of up to EUR 450,000 as part of the Eurostars programme for continued research on its clinical epigenetic anti-cancer agents. Eurostars is a European Union funding programme that provides targeted support to market-oriented R&D collaborations pursued by small and medium-sized enterprises. In line with the goals of this programme, 4SC applied for funding together with two other epigenetics companies from France and Spain.

4SC’s research project supported by Eurostars named “EMTherapy” will start in October 2015 and is scheduled to run for just under three years. In this project 4SC will conduct additional preclinical research into its two clinical epigenetic compounds – resminostat and 4SC-202. This research will involve cell culture and animal models to investigate the properties of resminostat and 4SC-202 as immunomodulators, and their potential combination with immunotherapy agents such as checkpoint inhibitors. Further research will also be conducted on their mechanisms of action and possible combinations with other cancer drugs and to identify other potential indications for clinical applications.

Resminostat, 4SC’s epigenetic lead compound, is an oral histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that has already been examined in preclinical and clinical trials in indications such as liver cancer, lung cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer and biliary tract cancer, and has shown promising activity as an immunomodulator in initial preclinical models. 4SC is currently preparing a clinical Phase II trial with resminostat in the indication of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Based on data from this study, 4SC will ideally be able to submit a filing for conditional approval for resminostat in the indication of CTCL in Europe. 4SC’s second epigenetic compound 4SC-202, which has already undergone successful testing in a clinical Phase I trial in haematological tumours, possesses a unique mechanism of action, namely a combination of the epigenetic regulation of gene expression and the targeted combating of cancer stem cells.

Enno Spillner, CEO of 4SC AG: “Complementing the indications currently in clinical development for our two epigenetic drug candidates, we also see great potential for an immunomodulatory approach. Therefore, our goal is to use the grant money to conduct further research into resminostat and 4SC-202’s ‘Immune Priming’ properties. Expressed simply, cancer cells have the ability to make themselves invisible to the patient’s immune system, or to manipulate and weaken this system. We are now testing whether our compounds are able to restore tumour cell visibility for the immune system to either strengthen the immune system as it fights the cancer cells or improve the effectiveness of other immunotherapies. We published promising initial preclinical data on resminostat at the ITOC-2 conference back in March 2015 and these data were received with great interest.”

Epigenetics is currently one of the most promising approaches in the fight against cancer. Epigenetics is a term used to describe functionally relevant changes to the genome which, unlike mutations, do not involve a change in the nucleotide sequence. Examples of epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation or histone modification, each of which alters how genes are expressed and consequently read or not read without altering the underlying DNA sequence. Alongside genetic mutations, epigenetic ‘programming errors’ are very often the reason why previously healthy cells subsequently turn cancerous. The idea is for epigenetic compounds to correct these mistakes in genetic regulation and thus interrupt or combat the mechanism that is responsible for the onset of cancer.

End of press release

About Eurostars and the 4SC project supported by Eurostars
Run jointly by EUREKA and the European Commission, Eurostars is a funding programme that is also being continued as Eurostars 2 within Horizon 2020. Eurostars aims to provide additional incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage in joint research and development projects with European partners. Eurostars operates on the same principles as its parent initiative, EUREKA: projects are open to any technology and must have a civilian purpose. They target the development of an innovative product, process or service. In line with the ‘bottom-up’ principle, participating partners are free to define project content as they wish.

In line with the goals of the Eurostars programme, 4SC applied for funding together with two other epigenetics companies from France (Inventiva) and Spain (Oryzon Genomics). 4SC’s project called “EMTherapy” is conducted under the Eurostars European funding programme; its German partners are funded through grants by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

About 4SC
The Group managed by 4SC AG (ISIN DE000A14KL72) discovers and develops targeted, small-molecule drugs for treating diseases with high unmet medical needs in various 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 a headcount of 68 employees (60 FTEs) at 30 June 2015. 4SC AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since December 2005.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement applies only on the date of this press release. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may or may not occur in the future and as a result of which the actual results and performance may differ substantially from the expected future results or performance expressed or implied in the forward looking statements. No warranties or representations are made as to the accuracy, achievement or reasonableness of such statements, estimates or projections, and 4SC AG has no obligation to update any such information or to correct any inaccuracies herein or omission herefrom which may become apparent.

For more information please visit www.4sc.com or contact:

4SC AG
Jochen Orlowski, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
jochen.orlowski(at)4sc.com, Tel.: +49-89-7007-6366

MC Services
Katja Arnold, Michelle Kremer
katja.arnold(at)mc-services.eu, Tel.: +49-89-2102-2840

The Trout Group
Chad Rubin
crubin(at)troutgroup.com, Tel.: +1-646-378-2947

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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:	DE000A14KL72
WKN:	A14KL7
Listed:	Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange

End of News DGAP News Service

398467  2015-09-30